Big Horn County, Wyoming

County Distress Index: Normal · 41.1 | 12,018 people · 9th most distressed in Wyoming
American Default Research

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

Big Horn County, WY falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 41.1 — 2119th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Structural Poverty, where income and poverty levels indicate moderate economic strain. Within Wyoming, it ranks 9th of 23 counties. Among its 6 neighboring counties, 5 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Big Horn County's primary driver is Structural Poverty at 57.8 — above the national median.

Structural Poverty Primary driver 57.8
Unemployment Rate 69
Poverty Rate 42
Income vs. State Median 82
Child Poverty Rate 39
Disability Rate 60
Transfer Income Dependency 49
Consumer Credit Distress 51.8
Debt in Collections 33
Medical Debt 80
Auto Loan Delinquency 72
Credit Card Delinquency 58
Uninsured Rate 87
Subprime Credit Population 17
Economic Vitality 24.6
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 24
Rent-to-Income Ratio 28
Business Formation Rate 27
House Price Change (YoY) 12
Legal Distress 22.3
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 22
Housing Cost Burden 21.3
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 14
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 17
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 41
Homeownership Rate 34

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Big Horn County
Big Horn County, WY 41.1 Normal —
Big Horn County, MT 60.3 Elevated +19.2
Sheridan County, WY 33.7 Healthy -7.5
Washakie County, WY 30.4 Healthy -10.7
Carbon County, MT 30.0 Healthy -11.1
Park County, WY 26.9 Healthy -14.2
Johnson County, WY 21.1 Healthy -20.1

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Big Horn County
Goshen County, WY 41.1 Normal +0.0
Whitman County, WA 41.1 Normal -0.0
Macoupin County, IL 41.1 Normal -0.1
Henry County, IA 41.1 Normal -0.1
Beadle County, SD 41.2 Normal +0.1

Download Data

Export all distress indicators for Big Horn County as a CSV file.

Find Help in Big Horn County

Find an Attorney

Wyoming State Bar Lawyer Referral Service offers a lawyer referral service for bankruptcy, foreclosure defense, and consumer rights.

Wyoming State Bar Lawyer Referral Service 307-632-9061

Free Legal Aid

Legal aid organizations serving Big Horn County residents at no cost.

Wyoming Legal Services 1-877-432-9955
Legal Aid of Wyoming, Inc. (307) 432-0807

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 Wyoming →

Continue Reading

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the distress score for Big Horn County, Wyoming?

    Big Horn County has a County Distress Index score of 41.1 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 2,119th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 9th in Wyoming out of 23 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Big Horn County?

    The primary driver of distress in Big Horn County is Structural Poverty, where the county scores 57.8 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Unemployment Rate, Poverty Rate, Income vs. State Median.

  • How does Big Horn County compare to neighboring counties?

    Big Horn County (41.1) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Big Horn County, MT (60.3); Sheridan County, WY (33.7); Washakie County, WY (30.4).

  • 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 Normal 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). Big Horn County's score of 41.1 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

  • What data sources power Big Horn County's CDI score?

    Big Horn 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 Big Horn County?

    Big Horn County, Wyoming has a population of approximately 12,018 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.