Davison County, South Dakota

County Distress Index: Healthy · 27.3 | 19,922 people · 30th most distressed in South Dakota
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Davison County, SD ranks among the least distressed counties in the country at 27.3 — 2877th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Legal Distress, where bankruptcy filing rates are below the national average. Within South Dakota, it ranks 30th of 66 counties. Among its 5 neighboring counties, 4 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Davison County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 36.3 — above the national median.

Legal Distress Primary driver 36.3
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 36
Housing Cost Burden 32.1
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 27
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 16
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 22
Homeownership Rate 89
Consumer Credit Distress 25.3
Debt in Collections 14
Medical Debt 17
Auto Loan Delinquency 27
Credit Card Delinquency 39
Uninsured Rate 46
Subprime Credit Population 22
Structural Poverty 24.8
Unemployment Rate 5
Poverty Rate 16
Income vs. State Median 47
Child Poverty Rate 17
Disability Rate 40
Transfer Income Dependency 15
Economic Vitality 22.8
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 14
Rent-to-Income Ratio 9
Business Formation Rate 49
House Price Change (YoY) 61

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Davison County
Davison County, SD 27.3 Healthy —
Sanborn County, SD 28.0 Healthy +0.7
Aurora County, SD 19.7 Healthy -7.6
Douglas County, SD 16.2 Healthy -11.1
Hutchinson County, SD 14.4 Healthy -12.9
Hanson County, SD 11.9 Healthy -15.4

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Davison County
Cass County, NE 27.3 Healthy +0.0
Jo Daviess County, IL 27.3 Healthy -0.0
Jefferson County, WA 27.2 Healthy -0.1
O'Brien County, IA 27.4 Healthy +0.1
Custer County, NE 27.2 Healthy -0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Davison County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Davison County.

CCCS OF LSS - SOUTH DAKOTA
MITCHELL
605-996-0868 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 Davison 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 Davison County, South Dakota?

    Davison County has a County Distress Index score of 27.3 out of 100, placing it in the Healthy zone. It ranks 2,877th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 30th in South Dakota out of 66 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Davison County?

    The primary driver of distress in Davison County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 36.3 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Davison County compare to neighboring counties?

    Davison County (27.3) can be compared to its 5 neighboring counties: Sanborn County, SD (28.0); Aurora County, SD (19.7); Douglas County, SD (16.2).

  • 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 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). Davison County's score of 27.3 sits in the Healthy zone (below 46).

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

    Davison 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 Davison County?

    Davison County, South Dakota has a population of approximately 19,922 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.