Bon Homme County, South Dakota

County Distress Index: Healthy · 19.4 | 7,065 people · 52nd most distressed in South Dakota
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Bon Homme County, SD ranks among the least distressed counties in the country at 19.4 — 3084th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Economic Vitality, where wages keep pace with costs, business formation is healthy, and the local economy shows resilience. Within South Dakota, it ranks 52nd of 66 counties. Among its 4 neighboring counties, 3 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Bon Homme County's primary driver is Economic Vitality at 43.4 — above the national median.

Economic Vitality Primary driver 43.4
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 41
Rent-to-Income Ratio 9
Business Formation Rate 81
House Price Change (YoY) 87
Structural Poverty 32.4
Unemployment Rate 5
Poverty Rate 48
Income vs. State Median 51
Child Poverty Rate 11
Disability Rate 30
Transfer Income Dependency 35
Housing Cost Burden 22.7
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 22
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 9
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 64
Homeownership Rate 27
Legal Distress 13.1
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 13
Consumer Credit Distress 10.5
Debt in Collections 11
Medical Debt 7
Auto Loan Delinquency 5
Credit Card Delinquency 5
Uninsured Rate 26
Subprime Credit Population 15

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Bon Homme County
Bon Homme County, SD 19.4 Healthy —
Charles Mix County, SD 29.4 Healthy +10.0
Yankton County, SD 23.9 Healthy +4.4
Knox County, NE 23.3 Healthy +3.8
Hutchinson County, SD 14.4 Healthy -5.1

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Bon Homme County
Cuming County, NE 19.4 Healthy -0.0
Polk County, NE 19.5 Healthy +0.1
Sargent County, ND 19.3 Healthy -0.1
Denali Borough, AK 19.3 Healthy -0.2
Nelson County, ND 19.2 Healthy -0.2

Download Data

Export all distress indicators for Bon Homme County as a CSV file.

Find Help in Bon Homme County

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 Bon Homme County residents at no cost.

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

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Frequently Asked Questions

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

    Bon Homme County has a County Distress Index score of 19.4 out of 100, placing it in the Healthy zone. It ranks 3,084th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 52nd in South Dakota out of 66 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Bon Homme County?

    The primary driver of distress in Bon Homme County is Economic Vitality, where the county scores 43.4 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Wage-to-Rent Ratio, Rent-to-Income Ratio, Business Formation Rate.

  • How does Bon Homme County compare to neighboring counties?

    Bon Homme County (19.4) can be compared to its 4 neighboring counties: Charles Mix County, SD (29.4); Yankton County, SD (23.9); Knox County, NE (23.3).

  • 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 Healthy 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). Bon Homme County's score of 19.4 sits in the Healthy zone (below 46).

  • What data sources power Bon Homme County's CDI score?

    Bon Homme 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 Bon Homme County?

    Bon Homme County, South Dakota has a population of approximately 7,065 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a tiny county.