Marshall County, South Dakota

County Distress Index: Healthy · 20.5 | 4,390 people · 45th most distressed in South Dakota
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Marshall County, SD ranks among the least distressed counties in the country at 20.5 — 3063rd 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 45th 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. Marshall County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 31.6 — above the national median.

Legal Distress Primary driver 31.6
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 32
Structural Poverty 24.7
Unemployment Rate 19
Poverty Rate 30
Income vs. State Median 42
Child Poverty Rate 31
Disability Rate 14
Transfer Income Dependency 11
Consumer Credit Distress 22.9
Debt in Collections 21
Medical Debt 45
Auto Loan Delinquency 25
Credit Card Delinquency 22
Uninsured Rate 5
Subprime Credit Population 17
Economic Vitality 16.7
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 9
Rent-to-Income Ratio 6
Business Formation Rate 58
House Price Change (YoY) 5
Housing Cost Burden 10.6
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 8
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 5
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 27
Homeownership Rate 18

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Marshall County
Marshall County, SD 20.5 Healthy —
Roberts County, SD 39.8 Normal +19.3
Richland County, ND 35.3 Normal +14.8
Brown County, SD 32.6 Healthy +12.1
Day County, SD 23.7 Healthy +3.2
Sargent County, ND 19.3 Healthy -1.2

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Marshall County
Calhoun County, IL 20.5 Healthy -0.0
McPherson County, SD 20.5 Healthy +0.0
Grant County, SD 20.5 Healthy -0.0
Dixon County, NE 20.7 Healthy +0.2
Jasper County, IL 20.7 Healthy +0.2

Download Data

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

Find Help in Marshall 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 Marshall 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.

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Frequently Asked Questions

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

    Marshall County has a County Distress Index score of 20.5 out of 100, placing it in the Healthy zone. It ranks 3,063rd nationally out of 3,144 counties and 45th in South Dakota out of 66 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Marshall County?

    The primary driver of distress in Marshall County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 31.6 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Marshall County compare to neighboring counties?

    Marshall County (20.5) can be compared to its 5 neighboring counties: Roberts County, SD (39.8); Richland County, ND (35.3); Brown County, SD (32.6).

  • 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). Marshall County's score of 20.5 sits in the Healthy zone (below 46).

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

    Marshall 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 Marshall County?

    Marshall County, South Dakota has a population of approximately 4,390 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a tiny county.