Kansas Financial Distress Profile
Household debt and delinquency, bankruptcy filings, unemployment, foreclosure law and county distress scores for Kansas and its 105 counties, from federal sources, each shown beside the U.S. figure.
· Data from Federal Reserve Bank of New York, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, Q4 2025
Behind on your mortgage in Kansas? See your options under Kansas law →
Kansas ranks #36 of 51 jurisdictions on the State Distress Index, in the second-least distressed fifth: its score of 30 means it is more distressed than 30% of the 50 states and D.C.. County Distress Index details are listed separately for its 105 counties.
How Does Kansas Compare With the U.S.?
Kansas is above the U.S. figure on 0 of 5 household debt measures from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York for Q4 2025. Credit card delinquency is 10.7%, 1.7 percentage points below the U.S. 12.4%; total debt per adult with a credit file is $46,720, $16,480 below the U.S. $63,200.
Credit card delinquency in Kansas is up 4.3 percentage points from 6.4% in Q4 2019, and total debt per adult with a credit file is 20.7% higher than in Q4 2019.
Key Statistics at a Glance
State Distress Index: Kansas
Movement since 2006
Since 2006, Kansas has eased from the 31st-most distressed jurisdiction to the 36th-most distressed, as of 2025 Q1. Its State Distress Index score fell from 40 to 30 over the same span.
Quarter-aligned back-series. Each quarter re-ranks all 51 jurisdictions on that quarter's own data, so a state's position here can sit several spots from the current reading above, which uses each input's latest value.
Domain Breakdown
The national American Distress Index reads 47.0 (Typical). The composite itself sits higher than 44% of all published quarters since 2005. Kansas's State Distress Index of 30 (low-moderate state distress) is computed from 4 equal-weighted domains covering delinquency, default and legal signals, housing-basis debt burden, and labor.
Kansas and the U.S.
Delinquency rates measure balances 90 or more days past due as a share of total balances in each loan category. Higher rates signal greater household financial stress. Debt and balance figures are per adult with a credit file, not per resident.
Download all states (CSV)Kansas and the U.S.: 5 Household Debt Measures (Q4 2025)
Source: NY Fed Consumer Credit Panel / Equifax, Q4 2025.
Similar States by Distress Level
The states ranked closest to Kansas (#36) on the State Distress Index, with the domain that scores highest in each.
| State | SDI Score | Score Label | Highest Domain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kansas | 30 | low-moderate state distress | Default & Legal |
| Colorado | 34 | low-moderate state distress | Debt Burden (housing basis) |
| Massachusetts | 32 | low-moderate state distress | Debt Burden (housing basis) |
| Idaho | 28 | low state distress | Labor |
Change Since 2019
Q4 2019, the last fourth quarter before the pandemic, is the baseline. Credit card delinquency is higher than in Q4 2019 in 51 of 51 jurisdictions, and auto loan delinquency is higher in 33.
| Metric | Q4 2019 | Q4 2025 | Change | U.S. Q4 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Credit Card Delinquency | 6.4% | 10.7% | +4.3 percentage points | 12.4% |
| Auto Loan Delinquency | 3.4% | 4.0% | +0.6 percentage points | 5.2% |
| Mortgage Delinquency | 0.73% | 0.82% | +0.09 percentage points | 0.94% |
| Total Debt per Adult With a Credit File | $38,720 | $46,720 | +20.7% | $63,200 |
| Card Balance per Adult With a Credit File | $2,930 | $3,670 | +25.3% | $4,350 |
Kansas Foreclosure Law Summary
If you fall behind on mortgage payments, the steps and deadlines depend on state law. Kansas mainly uses judicial foreclosure, which goes through the courts.
Kansas requires judicial foreclosure for residential mortgages. The lender files a civil foreclosure action in the District Court of the county where the property is located. After judgment, the county sheriff conducts a public auction sale.
- Paying to stop the foreclosure: For a loan that counts as a covered transaction under the Kansas mortgage business act, the mortgage company cannot accelerate the loan or take the property because of a missed payment until 20 days after it gives a notice of the right to cure. Within those 20 days, the borrower can cure by paying all unpaid sums then due, without acceleration, plus any unpaid late fees (K.S.A. 9-2234(b)). For other loans, no Kansas statutory cure right was identified. After a mortgage company has once given a notice of the right to cure, the statute gives no right to cure later defaults on the same loan (K.S.A. 9-2234(c)).
- Post-sale redemption: 12 months from the day of the sheriff's sale in general. The court orders 3 months instead if the default came before one-third of the original debt was paid, unless it finds that all mortgages and liens total less than one-third of the property's market value; it can extend a 3-month period by another 3 months if the owner involuntarily loses their main source of income after the sale. After a hearing, the court can shorten or end the period if the property is abandoned or not occupied in good faith. Except for farmland and one- or two-family homes the owners live in, the mortgage can shorten or waive the period.
No Dollar Cap on the Homestead Exemption
Kansas's homestead exemption has no dollar cap, within the acreage and other limits state law sets, so it can protect the equity in a primary home from many other creditors. It does not stop a mortgage foreclosure. Credit card delinquency is 10.7%, 1.7 percentage points below the U.S. 12.4%, and 0 of 5 NY Fed household debt measures are above the U.S. figure.
Distress by County
The County Distress Index scores every county in Kansas on a 0-100 scale using five equal-weighted domains: delinquency, default and legal, debt burden, labor, and safety net and buffer. Kansas's 105 counties average 27.1: on average, Kansas's counties are more distressed than 27% of U.S. counties. Across all 3,144 counties the average is 50.0, the middle of the scale.
Score Label Distribution
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Most Distressed Counties
| County | Score | Score Label | Top Driver |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wyandotte County | 89 | very high county distress | Debt Burden (housing basis) |
| Montgomery County | 72 | high county distress | Safety Net & Buffer |
| Geary County | 71 | high county distress | Delinquency |
| Bourbon County | 70 | high county distress | Delinquency |
| Chautauqua County | 59 | moderate county distress | Safety Net & Buffer |
Least Distressed Counties
| County | Score | Score Label | Top Domain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gray County | 0 | exceptionally low county distress | Safety Net & Buffer |
| Nemaha County | 0 | exceptionally low county distress | Safety Net & Buffer |
| Pottawatomie County | 1 | exceptionally low county distress | Labor |
| Washington County | 3 | exceptionally low county distress | Safety Net & Buffer |
| Ness County | 3 | exceptionally low county distress | Safety Net & Buffer |
The most distressed county in Kansas is Wyandotte County (89, very high county distress); the least distressed is Gray County (0, exceptionally low county distress).
Explore all 105 Kansas counties →CFPB Mortgage Complaints in Kansas
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has received 1,795 mortgage complaints from Kansas since 2012, 61.0 per 100,000 residents, 74 below the U.S. rate of 135. Kansas ranks #47 of 51 on complaints per resident.
| Year | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Complaints | 100 | 109 | 107 | 96 | 95 | 130 |
Source: CFPB Consumer Complaint Database. Filed a mortgage complaint? Search the complaint database.
Bankruptcy Filings: Kansas
The filing rate is bankruptcy cases filed in a year, from the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, per 100,000 residents. It does not identify household causes, motives, assets, income, or case outcomes. Kansas's rate of 142.2 is 26.9 below the U.S. rate of 169.1.
Source: U.S. Courts, Administrative Office. Table F-2: Cases Commenced by Chapter. Per-capita rates use 2024 U.S. Census Bureau population estimates.
Credit Distress: Kansas
The Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia's Consumer Credit Explorer reports credit health from NY Fed / Equifax credit records. 14.0% of people with a credit file in Kansas have debt in collections, 0.1 percentage points above the U.S. average of 13.9%. 14.0% have subprime credit scores (below 620), and 36.0% are credit-constrained.
Source: Philadelphia Fed Consumer Credit Explorer. Data from NY Fed Consumer Credit Panel / Equifax. Q1 2025. The U.S. average is weighted by state population (our calculation).
Economic Context: Kansas
SNAP enrollment and unemployment give context for the debt figures above. The unemployment rate measures joblessness among people in the labor force. SNAP enrollment reflects each state's program rules and reach as well as need, which is why it is not part of the State Distress Index.
Sources: U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service, BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics. Population: U.S. Census Bureau 2024 estimates.
Safety Net Strength: Kansas
The Safety Net Index measures how much support infrastructure is available to households in financial distress — combining healthcare coverage, food assistance, emergency housing funds, and legal protections. Kansas scores 28.6 out of 100 (Minimal), ranking #45 of 51 jurisdictions.
Component Breakdown
Sources: Kaiser Family Foundation (Medicaid, 2024), USDA FNS (SNAP, June 2026), state foreclosure statutes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the credit card delinquency rate in Kansas?
The credit card delinquency rate in Kansas is 10.7% as of Q4 2025, ranking #31 among the 51 states and DC, 1.7 percentage points below the U.S. 12.4%. It is up 4.3 percentage points from 6.4% in Q4 2019.
How does Kansas's household debt compare with the U.S.?
The NY Fed reports a $46,720 total debt balance per adult with a credit file in Kansas, $16,480 below the U.S. $63,200 on the same basis. That is 20.7% higher than in Q4 2019. Kansas ranks #46 on that basis.
What is the auto loan delinquency rate in Kansas?
Auto loan delinquency in Kansas is 4.0% as of Q4 2025, 1.2 percentage points below the U.S. 5.2%. This ranks #30 of 51. The rate is up from 3.4% in Q4 2019.
What type of foreclosure process does Kansas use?
Kansas mainly uses judicial foreclosure, which goes through the courts. See our Kansas foreclosure guide for the timeline, homeowner protections and where to get free help.
What is Kansas's State Distress Index score?
Kansas scores 30 on the State Distress Index (low-moderate state distress), which means it is more distressed than 30% of the 50 states and D.C.. It ranks #36 of 51 jurisdictions, in the second-least distressed fifth. The score is built from 4 equal-weighted domains: delinquency, default and legal, debt burden on a housing basis, and labor. It ranks states against each other at one time. Separately, the national American Distress Index reads 47.0 (Typical) for the country over time. The composite itself sits higher than 44% of all published quarters since 2005.
How many CFPB mortgage complaints have been filed in Kansas?
The CFPB has received 1,795 mortgage complaints from Kansas since 2012, 61.0 per 100,000 residents, 74 below the U.S. rate of 135. That ranks #47 of 51. Companies responded to 97.8% of Kansas complaints on time.
What is the bankruptcy filing rate in Kansas?
Kansas had 4,213 bankruptcy filings in the 12-month period ending Dec 2025, 142.2 per 100,000 residents, 26.9 below the U.S. rate of 169.1. This ranks #26 of 51. Chapter 7 filings account for 53.6% and Chapter 13 for 44.7%. That is 10.1% more filings than in 2024.
What percentage of people in Kansas have debt in collections?
14.0% of people with a credit file in Kansas have debt in collections, 0.1 percentage points above the U.S. average of 13.9%. This ranks #21 of 51. 14.0% have subprime credit scores (below 620), 2.9 percentage points below the U.S. average of 16.9%. Data from the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia Consumer Credit Explorer (NY Fed / Equifax), Q1 2025.
What is the SNAP enrollment rate in Kansas?
162,058 residents of Kansas received SNAP benefits in June 2026, an enrollment rate of 5.5%, 5.3 percentage points below the U.S. rate of 10.8%. This ranks #48 of 51. That is 13.1% fewer people than in June 2025. The rate is 1.1 percentage points below the October 2019 to February 2020 average.
How strong is Kansas's financial safety net?
Kansas scores 28.6 out of 100 on the Safety Net Index, ranking #45 of 51 (Minimal). The score combines Medicaid coverage (12.9% enrollment rate, non-expansion state), SNAP enrollment (5.5%), and foreclosure legal protections. That is below the state average of 43.6.
Which Kansas counties have the highest financial distress?
Wyandotte County is the most distressed county in Kansas with a County Distress Index score of 89 · very high county distress. Montgomery County (72 · high county distress), Geary County (71 · high county distress), Bourbon County (70 · high county distress) are next. Gray County is the least distressed at 0 · exceptionally low county distress. See all 105 counties at /counties/kansas/.
How long can foreclosure take in Kansas?
Kansas mainly uses judicial foreclosure, which goes through the courts. The timeline varies by county and case. Paying to stop the foreclosure: For a loan that counts as a covered transaction under the Kansas mortgage business act, the mortgage company cannot accelerate the loan or take the property because of a missed payment until 20 days after it gives a notice of the right to cure. Within those 20 days, the borrower can cure by paying all unpaid sums then due, without acceleration, plus any unpaid late fees (K.S.A. 9-2234(b)). For other loans, no Kansas statutory cure right was identified. After a mortgage company has once given a notice of the right to cure, the statute gives no right to cure later defaults on the same loan (K.S.A. 9-2234(c)). Homestead exemption: Constitutionally unlimited dollar value. Homestead defined as up to 160 acres of farming land or one acre within a city or town. The homestead exemption protects against most unsecured creditors and judgment liens but does NOT bar the mortgage lender from foreclosing its security interest in the homestead. Full details at /help/foreclosure/kansas/.
Where does Kansas rank for financial distress?
Kansas scores 30 on the State Distress Index (low-moderate state distress), which means it is more distressed than 30% of the 50 states and D.C.. It ranks #36 of 51 jurisdictions, in the second-least distressed fifth. 0 of 5 NY Fed household debt measures are above the U.S. figure. The State Distress Index domain with the highest score is Default & Legal. County Distress Index details are listed separately by county. The safety net ranks #45 (Minimal), a state that has not expanded Medicaid.
Data Sources
NY Fed Consumer Credit Panel
State-level household debt and delinquency statistics from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, based on Equifax credit bureau data. Published once a year with fourth-quarter figures.
American Distress Index
Composite index tracking U.S. household financial distress across five equal-weighted domains. National score as of the latest available quarter.
Kansas Foreclosure Statutes
State foreclosure law data compiled from primary statutory sources and validated against legal databases. Last verified 2026-03-10.
CFPB Complaint Database
Mortgage complaints filed with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, 2012–present. Density calculated using 2024 Census population estimates.
USDA SNAP State Activity
Monthly SNAP participation by state from the USDA Food and Nutrition Service. Enrollment rates computed against 2024 Census population estimates.
U.S. Bankruptcy Courts
Annual bankruptcy filings by chapter and district from the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts. Per-capita rates computed against 2024 Census population estimates.
Philadelphia Fed Consumer Credit Explorer
Quarterly credit health metrics (collections, subprime share, delinquency, credit-constrained rates) from Equifax via the NY Fed Consumer Credit Panel.
Safety Net Index
Composite score from KFF Medicaid enrollment (2024), USDA SNAP participation (latest month), and state foreclosure legal protections.