Beadle County, South Dakota

County Distress Index: Normal · 41.2 | 19,591 people · 12th most distressed in South Dakota
American Default Research

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Beadle County, SD falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 41.2 — 2114th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Housing Cost Burden, where a large share of households spend more than 30% of income on housing. Within South Dakota, it ranks 12th of 66 counties. It scores higher than all 6 of its neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Beadle County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 66.3 — above the national median.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 66.3
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 57
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 67
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 90
Homeownership Rate 70
Structural Poverty 43.5
Unemployment Rate 5
Poverty Rate 69
Income vs. State Median 77
Child Poverty Rate 58
Disability Rate 27
Transfer Income Dependency 17
Economic Vitality 38.8
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 28
Rent-to-Income Ratio 30
Business Formation Rate 80
House Price Change (YoY) 42
Consumer Credit Distress 33.3
Debt in Collections 33
Medical Debt 56
Auto Loan Delinquency 26
Credit Card Delinquency 39
Uninsured Rate 28
Subprime Credit Population 23
Legal Distress 15.6
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 16

Scores are percentile-based: 50 = national median, higher = more distressed.

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Beadle County
Beadle County, SD 41.2 Normal —
Sanborn County, SD 28.0 Healthy -13.2
Kingsbury County, SD 24.6 Healthy -16.7
Jerauld County, SD 23.2 Healthy -18.0
Clark County, SD 21.3 Healthy -19.9
Spink County, SD 17.6 Healthy -23.6
Hand County, SD 15.2 Healthy -26.1

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Beadle County
Monroe County, OH 41.3 Normal +0.0
Goshen County, WY 41.1 Normal -0.1
Uintah County, UT 41.3 Normal +0.1
Big Horn County, WY 41.1 Normal -0.1
Whitman County, WA 41.1 Normal -0.1

Download Data

Export all distress indicators for Beadle County as a CSV file.

Find Help in Beadle County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Beadle County.

CCCS OF LSS - SOUTH DAKOTA
Huron
888-258-2227 Website
Foreclosure PreventionFinancial CounselingHomeless/DisplacementPre-Purchase

See all counselors in South Dakota →

Find an Attorney

State Bar of South Dakota Lawyer Referral Service offers a lawyer referral service for bankruptcy, foreclosure defense, and consumer rights.

State Bar of South Dakota Lawyer Referral Service 605-224-7554

Free Legal Aid

Legal aid organizations serving Beadle County residents at no cost.

East River Legal Services 1-800-952-3015
Dakota Plains Legal Services 1-800-658-2297

American Default Research does not endorse, rate, or rank any provider. Verify attorney credentials with your state bar.

Need legal help? Find a foreclosure defense attorney in South Dakota →

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the distress score for Beadle County, South Dakota?

    Beadle County has a County Distress Index score of 41.2 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 2,114th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 12th in South Dakota out of 66 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Beadle County?

    The primary driver of distress in Beadle County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 66.3 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Beadle County compare to neighboring counties?

    Beadle County (41.2) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Sanborn County, SD (28.0); Kingsbury County, SD (24.6); Jerauld County, SD (23.2).

  • How is the County Distress Index calculated?

    The County Distress Index uses PCA-weighted percentile scoring across five statistically derived factors: Consumer Credit Distress (47.5%), Housing Cost Burden (22.3%), Structural Poverty (13.6%), Economic Vitality (9.2%), and Legal Distress (7.4%). Each county's indicators are ranked against all 3,144 U.S. counties. A score of 50 means the county is at the national median; higher scores indicate greater distress.

  • How often is the CDI updated?

    Annually, aligned to Census American Community Survey and Urban Institute Debt in America release windows — the slowest-moving source inputs. Between annual refreshes, faster-cadence indicators (BLS unemployment, QCEW wages) may drive light mid-year updates if a specific component moves meaningfully. Current data compiled April 14, 2026; next full refresh early 2027.

  • What does the Normal zone mean?

    The CDI divides counties into five zones: Healthy (below 46), Normal (46–55), Elevated (55–71), Serious (71–86), and Crisis (86 and above). Beadle County's score of 41.2 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

  • What data sources power Beadle County's CDI score?

    Beadle County's CDI score draws on Urban Institute Debt in America (Equifax credit-bureau panel), U.S. Census Bureau (American Community Survey 5-year, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates), Bureau of Labor Statistics (LAUS, QCEW), U.S. Courts Administrative Office (F-5A bankruptcy filings), and HUD Fair Market Rents. Every number on this page traces to one of these public sources.

  • What is the population of Beadle County?

    Beadle County, South Dakota has a population of approximately 19,591 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.