Clay County, South Dakota

County Distress Index: Healthy · 33.1 | 15,431 people · 19th most distressed in South Dakota
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Clay County, SD ranks among the least distressed counties in the country at 33.1 — 2575th 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 19th 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. Clay County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 67.2 — above the national median.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 67.2
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 35
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 93
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 47
Homeownership Rate 95
Structural Poverty 37.1
Unemployment Rate 10
Poverty Rate 76
Income vs. State Median 63
Child Poverty Rate 33
Disability Rate 14
Transfer Income Dependency 19
Economic Vitality 35.6
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 29
Rent-to-Income Ratio 16
Business Formation Rate 85
House Price Change (YoY) 37
Consumer Credit Distress 19.8
Debt in Collections 17
Medical Debt 23
Auto Loan Delinquency 6
Credit Card Delinquency 8
Uninsured Rate 60
Subprime Credit Population 27
Legal Distress 5.5
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 5

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Clay County
Clay County, SD 33.1 Healthy —
Yankton County, SD 23.9 Healthy -9.3
Union County, SD 21.9 Healthy -11.2
Dixon County, NE 20.7 Healthy -12.5
Lincoln County, SD 20.3 Healthy -12.8
Turner County, SD 19.0 Healthy -14.2
Cedar County, NE 17.3 Healthy -15.9

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Clay County
Pierce County, WI 33.1 Healthy -0.0
Barnes County, ND 33.1 Healthy -0.0
Mills County, IA 33.2 Healthy +0.1
Auglaize County, OH 33.0 Healthy -0.1
Orange County, VT 33.2 Healthy +0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Clay County

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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 Clay 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 Clay County, South Dakota?

    Clay County has a County Distress Index score of 33.1 out of 100, placing it in the Healthy zone. It ranks 2,575th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 19th in South Dakota out of 66 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Clay County?

    The primary driver of distress in Clay County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 67.2 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Clay County compare to neighboring counties?

    Clay County (33.1) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Yankton County, SD (23.9); Union County, SD (21.9); Dixon County, NE (20.7).

  • 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). Clay County's score of 33.1 sits in the Healthy zone (below 46).

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

    Clay 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 Clay County?

    Clay County, South Dakota has a population of approximately 15,431 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.