Jones County, South Dakota

County Distress Index: Healthy · 26.1 | 855 people · 31st most distressed in South Dakota
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Jones County, SD ranks among the least distressed counties in the country at 26.1 — 2926th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Economic Vitality, where wages are low relative to housing costs, business formation lags, and the local economy lacks dynamism. Within South Dakota, it ranks 31st of 66 counties. Among its 5 neighboring counties, 4 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Jones County's primary driver is Economic Vitality at 66.3 — above the national median.

Economic Vitality Primary driver 66.3
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 84
Rent-to-Income Ratio 22
Business Formation Rate 95
House Price Change (YoY) 54
Structural Poverty 42.1
Unemployment Rate 30
Poverty Rate 55
Income vs. State Median 73
Child Poverty Rate 75
Disability Rate 5
Transfer Income Dependency 13
Housing Cost Burden 19.9
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 5
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 5
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 70
Homeownership Rate 55
Consumer Credit Distress 18.8
Debt in Collections 12
Medical Debt 21
Auto Loan Delinquency 18
Credit Card Delinquency 19
Uninsured Rate 72
Subprime Credit Population 5
Legal Distress 12.7
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 13

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Jones County
Jones County, SD 26.1 Healthy —
Jackson County, SD 51.3 Elevated +25.2
Mellette County, SD 42.0 Normal +15.9
Lyman County, SD 38.7 Normal +12.6
Stanley County, SD 32.8 Healthy +6.7
Haakon County, SD 17.1 Healthy -9.0

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Jones County
Grant County, NE 26.1 Healthy 0.0
Jackson County, MN 26.1 Healthy -0.1
Ellsworth County, KS 26.3 Healthy +0.1
Gosper County, NE 26.3 Healthy +0.1
Chase County, NE 26.0 Healthy -0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Jones 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 Jones 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 Jones County, South Dakota?

    Jones County has a County Distress Index score of 26.1 out of 100, placing it in the Healthy zone. It ranks 2,926th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 31st in South Dakota out of 66 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Jones County?

    The primary driver of distress in Jones County is Economic Vitality, where the county scores 66.3 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Wage-to-Rent Ratio, Rent-to-Income Ratio, Business Formation Rate.

  • How does Jones County compare to neighboring counties?

    Jones County (26.1) can be compared to its 5 neighboring counties: Jackson County, SD (51.3); Mellette County, SD (42.0); Lyman County, SD (38.7).

  • 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). Jones County's score of 26.1 sits in the Healthy zone (below 46).

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

    Jones 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 Jones County?

    Jones County, South Dakota has a population of approximately 855 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a tiny county.