Hutchinson County, South Dakota

County Distress Index: Healthy · 14.4 | 7,394 people · 64th most distressed in South Dakota
American Default Research

Behind on your mortgage or facing eviction? Take a 2-minute assessment to see your options.

Hutchinson County, SD ranks among the least distressed counties in the country at 14.4 — 3138th 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 64th of 66 counties. Among its 8 neighboring counties, 7 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Hutchinson County's primary driver is Economic Vitality at 36.0 — above the national median.

Economic Vitality Primary driver 36.0
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 31
Rent-to-Income Ratio 7
Business Formation Rate 85
House Price Change (YoY) 54
Structural Poverty 25.8
Unemployment Rate 10
Poverty Rate 19
Income vs. State Median 44
Child Poverty Rate 28
Disability Rate 22
Transfer Income Dependency 22
Housing Cost Burden 12.3
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 10
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 8
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 11
Homeownership Rate 27
Consumer Credit Distress 9.1
Debt in Collections 5
Medical Debt 17
Auto Loan Delinquency 5
Credit Card Delinquency 14
Uninsured Rate 10
Subprime Credit Population 8
Legal Distress 6.2
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 6

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Hutchinson County
Hutchinson County, SD 14.4 Healthy —
Charles Mix County, SD 29.4 Healthy +15.1
Davison County, SD 27.3 Healthy +12.9
Yankton County, SD 23.9 Healthy +9.5
McCook County, SD 22.5 Healthy +8.1
Bon Homme County, SD 19.4 Healthy +5.1
Turner County, SD 19.0 Healthy +4.6
Douglas County, SD 16.2 Healthy +1.9
Hanson County, SD 11.9 Healthy -2.5

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Hutchinson County
Billings County, ND 14.6 Healthy +0.2
Bottineau County, ND 15.1 Healthy +0.7
McLean County, ND 15.1 Healthy +0.7
Hand County, SD 15.2 Healthy +0.8
Steele County, ND 13.5 Healthy -0.9

Download Data

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

Find Help in Hutchinson 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 Hutchinson 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 →

Continue Reading

Frequently Asked Questions

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

    Hutchinson County has a County Distress Index score of 14.4 out of 100, placing it in the Healthy zone. It ranks 3,138th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 64th in South Dakota out of 66 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Hutchinson County?

    The primary driver of distress in Hutchinson County is Economic Vitality, where the county scores 36.0 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Wage-to-Rent Ratio, Rent-to-Income Ratio, Business Formation Rate.

  • How does Hutchinson County compare to neighboring counties?

    Hutchinson County (14.4) can be compared to its 8 neighboring counties: Charles Mix County, SD (29.4); Davison County, SD (27.3); Yankton County, SD (23.9).

  • 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). Hutchinson County's score of 14.4 sits in the Healthy zone (below 46).

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

    Hutchinson 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 Hutchinson County?

    Hutchinson County, South Dakota has a population of approximately 7,394 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a tiny county.