Codington County, South Dakota

County Distress Index: Healthy · 30.5 | 28,971 people · 24th most distressed in South Dakota
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Codington County, SD ranks among the least distressed counties in the country at 30.5 — 2732nd nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Housing Cost Burden, where housing costs consume a moderate share of household income. Within South Dakota, it ranks 24th of 66 counties. It scores higher than all 5 of its neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Codington County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 62.2 — above the national median.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 62.3
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 48
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 65
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 77
Homeownership Rate 79
Economic Vitality 37.6
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 50
Rent-to-Income Ratio 35
Business Formation Rate 1
House Price Change (YoY) 54
Legal Distress 31.1
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 31
Structural Poverty 23.7
Unemployment Rate 4
Poverty Rate 32
Income vs. State Median 54
Child Poverty Rate 18
Disability Rate 10
Transfer Income Dependency 13
Consumer Credit Distress 16.2
Debt in Collections 7
Medical Debt 26
Auto Loan Delinquency 9
Credit Card Delinquency 12
Uninsured Rate 37
Subprime Credit Population 21

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Codington County
Codington County, SD 30.5 Healthy —
Day County, SD 23.7 Healthy -6.8
Clark County, SD 21.3 Healthy -9.3
Grant County, SD 20.5 Healthy -10.1
Deuel County, SD 15.7 Healthy -14.8
Hamlin County, SD 10.8 Healthy -19.7

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Codington County
Ste. Genevieve County, MO 30.6 Healthy +0.0
Antrim County, MI 30.5 Healthy -0.0
Presque Isle County, MI 30.5 Healthy -0.0
Poquoson city, VA 30.6 Healthy +0.0
Louisa County, IA 30.4 Healthy -0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Codington County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Codington County.

CCCS OF LSS - SOUTH DAKOTA
WATERTOWN
605-882-2228 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 Codington 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 Codington County, South Dakota?

    Codington County has a County Distress Index score of 30.5 out of 100, placing it in the Healthy zone. It ranks 2,732nd nationally out of 3,144 counties and 24th in South Dakota out of 66 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Codington County?

    The primary driver of distress in Codington County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 62.2 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Codington County compare to neighboring counties?

    Codington County (30.5) can be compared to its 5 neighboring counties: Day County, SD (23.7); Clark County, SD (21.3); Grant County, SD (20.5).

  • 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). Codington County's score of 30.5 sits in the Healthy zone (below 46).

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

    Codington 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 Codington County?

    Codington County, South Dakota has a population of approximately 28,971 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.