McPherson County, South Dakota

County Distress Index: Healthy · 20.5 | 2,334 people · 44th most distressed in South Dakota
American Default Research

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

McPherson County, SD ranks among the least distressed counties in the country at 20.5 — 3062nd nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Economic Vitality, where employment and wage conditions show moderate stress. Within South Dakota, it ranks 44th of 66 counties. Its score is in the middle of its 6 neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. McPherson County's primary driver is Economic Vitality at 51.6 — above the national median.

Economic Vitality Primary driver 51.6
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 63
Rent-to-Income Ratio 40
Business Formation Rate 39
House Price Change (YoY) 54
Structural Poverty 44.6
Unemployment Rate 5
Poverty Rate 64
Income vs. State Median 87
Child Poverty Rate 56
Disability Rate 21
Transfer Income Dependency 20
Consumer Credit Distress 16.3
Debt in Collections 5
Medical Debt 43
Auto Loan Delinquency 18
Credit Card Delinquency 19
Uninsured Rate 21
Subprime Credit Population 5
Legal Distress 6.9
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 7
Housing Cost Burden 6.5
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 5
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 5
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 5
Homeownership Rate 15

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. McPherson County
McPherson County, SD 20.5 Healthy —
Brown County, SD 32.6 Healthy +12.1
Walworth County, SD 31.3 Healthy +10.7
McIntosh County, ND 22.9 Healthy +2.4
Dickey County, ND 19.8 Healthy -0.7
Campbell County, SD 17.4 Healthy -3.2
Edmunds County, SD 15.4 Healthy -5.2

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. McPherson County
Marshall County, SD 20.5 Healthy -0.0
Calhoun County, IL 20.5 Healthy -0.0
Grant County, SD 20.5 Healthy -0.1
Dixon County, NE 20.7 Healthy +0.1
Jasper County, IL 20.7 Healthy +0.2

Download Data

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

Find Help in McPherson 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 McPherson 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 McPherson County, South Dakota?

    McPherson County has a County Distress Index score of 20.5 out of 100, placing it in the Healthy zone. It ranks 3,062nd nationally out of 3,144 counties and 44th in South Dakota out of 66 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in McPherson County?

    The primary driver of distress in McPherson County is Economic Vitality, where the county scores 51.6 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Wage-to-Rent Ratio, Rent-to-Income Ratio, Business Formation Rate.

  • How does McPherson County compare to neighboring counties?

    McPherson County (20.5) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Brown County, SD (32.6); Walworth County, SD (31.3); McIntosh County, ND (22.9).

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

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

    McPherson 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 McPherson County?

    McPherson County, South Dakota has a population of approximately 2,334 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a tiny county.