In Coffey County, Kansas, rent on a two-bedroom takes about one in six dollars of the typical household's income
In Coffey County, 16.3% of the typical household's income would go to rent on a two-bedroom. That is lower than in 91% of U.S. counties.
Less distressed than 65% of U.S. counties.
What drives Coffey County's score
In Coffey County, jobs are the highest-scoring part, at 71.8. Collections and bankruptcy is the lowest part, at 17.3. Bankruptcy filings ran at 60.6 per 100,000 people (2025), lower than in 85% of U.S. counties.
The County Distress Index looks at five parts of household money trouble in Coffey County: jobs, late payments on loans, income and the safety net, collections and bankruptcy, and housing costs. Each part is scored from 0 to 100, and a higher score means worse off than other counties.
Even so, Coffey County is worse off than most counties on adults 25 to 54 not working (25.5%, 2020 to 2024).
A longer bar means more trouble. See how the county score works.
- 71.8 of 100
Jobs
Biggest factorUnemployment through Sep 2026; adults not working, 2020–24 Census survey
- Unemployment rate, average over the latest year4.5% · Oct 2025 to Sep 202667th percentile
- Adults 25 to 54 not working25.5% · 2020 to 202476th percentile
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- 49.2 of 100
Late payments
Credit records, August 2025; credit scores, second quarter of 2026
- People with a credit card behind5.8% · August 202556th percentile
- People with a car or retail loan behind6.1% · August 202562nd percentile
- People with a subprime credit score34.9% · second quarter of 202628th percentile
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- 44.4 of 100
Income and safety net
Poverty and income, 2024; disability and insurance, 2020–24 Census survey
- People below the poverty line10.3% · 202424th percentile
- Children below the poverty line12.1% · 202423rd percentile
- People with a disability18.0% · 2020 to 202467th percentile
- People without health insurance11.0% · 2020 to 202472nd percentile
- Median household income (lower income, longer bar)$72,961 · 202433rd percentile
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- 21.7 of 100
Housing costs
Renters, 2020–24 Census survey; HUD's fair market rents, fiscal year 2027
- Renters paying half their income or more in rent15.5% · 2020 to 202434th percentile
- Rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income16.3% · fiscal year 20278th percentile
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- 17.3 of 100
Collections and bankruptcy
Credit records, August 2025; bankruptcy filings, 2025
- People with unpaid debt sent to a collector15.2% · August 202519th percentile
- Bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people60.6 · 202514th percentile
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Sources: Urban Institute, Debt in America; Equifax via the St. Louis Fed; Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, Table F-5A; U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey; U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Fair Market Rents and Census income; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates. County Distress Index by American Default Research, from data through Sep 2026.
Where the money in Coffey County comes from
Benefit checks are Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid paid on people's behalf, veterans' benefits, and food and income support, so a high share usually means an older population, low pay, or both. In Coffey County, 22.5% of residents are 65 or older (Census Bureau, 2024), against 17.2% nationally that year.
Cents of every dollar of income, 2024
Coffey County
Kansas
United States
- Pay from work
- Investments and rent
- Benefit checks
Benefit checks' share of income in Coffey County had its largest rise in the last span, from 21.8% in 2019 to 27.7% in 2024.
In Coffey County, benefit checks' share of income has doubled since 1969, reaching 27.7% in 2024, but pay from work still brings in twice as much as benefit checks
In Coffey County, Kansas, benefit checks' share of income doubled from 1969 to 2024, reaching 27.7%; pay from work is plotted alongside. Every fifth year and 2024 are shown.
- Benefit checks
- Pay from work
The share of households in Coffey County getting SNAP food aid had its largest rise, from 5.7% in 2011 to 7.5% in 2012.
The share of households in Coffey County getting SNAP food aid was at its highest on the chart in 2016 and has since fallen to 8.6%
Low on the chart: 5.5% in 2010. Households getting SNAP, every year; each bar is a five-year survey estimate ending that year, so neighboring bars share most of their data, Coffey County, Kansas.
How Coffey County has changed
Coffey County's population had its largest rise, from 7,513 in 1974 to 8,928 in 1979.
Coffey County's population was at its highest on the chart in 1984 and is down 13% since
High on the chart: 9,527 in 1984. Residents, yearly estimate, every fifth year and 2024, Coffey County, Kansas.
The number of jobs located in Coffey County had its largest drop, from 4,284 in 2015 to 3,462 in 2020.
The number of jobs located in Coffey County was at its highest on the chart in 2015 and has since fallen by about a fifth
High on the chart: 4,284 in 2015. Yearly average of jobs covered by unemployment insurance, every fifth year and 2025, Coffey County, Kansas.
| Measure | Then | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rateBLS LAUS | 1990 5.2% | 2025 4.4% |
| People below the poverty lineCensus SAIPE | 1989 10.6% | 2024 10.3% |
| Median household incomeCensus SAIPE | 1989 $24,627 | 2024 $72,961 |
The table uses 4.4% for 2025; the score uses 4.5% for the latest year (Oct 2025 to Sep 2026), both from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Figures are as each agency published them, not adjusted for prices.
Dated events in Coffey County's history
1900
The county's largest recorded population was the 1900 Census count of 16,643. The 2020 Census counted 8,360, 50% of the peak. Census Bureau
1992
A tornado in October 1992 did $2.5 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
1996
Hail in April 1996 did $1 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2011
Lightning in September 2011 killed one person. NOAA Storm Events Database
2012
Lightning in July 2012 killed one person. NOAA Storm Events Database
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Since 1967
19 federal disaster and emergency declarations have covered Coffey County, 12 of them for flooding. FEMA
Coffey County beside its neighbors
Of the six counties that border Coffey County, five score higher. For the share of income from benefit checks, Coffey County ranks 3rd of the seven; Greenwood County is highest, at 32.2%.
| County | Score | Poverty | Benefit checks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Woodson County, KS | 58 | 12.9% | 30.8% |
| Greenwood County, KS | 54 | 14.5% | 32.2% |
| Lyon County, KS | 47 | 13.5% | 24.4% |
| Franklin County, KS | 40 | 8.9% | 26.1% |
| Anderson County, KS | 37 | 12.1% | 26.4% |
| Coffey County, KS | 34 | 10.3% | 27.7% |
| Osage County, KS | 28 | 10.7% | 26.1% |
Distress score: American Default Research, County Distress Index, data through Sep 2026; each county scored against all 3,144. Poverty rate: Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates, 2024. Benefit checks: Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024. Neighbors share a border, from Census county maps.
Is Coffey County the poorest county in Kansas?
No, Coffey County's poverty rate was 10.3% in 2024, 74th highest of 105 in Kansas (U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates). By that measure the poorest county in the state is Riley County, at 18.1%. On our distress index, which counts more than poverty, Coffey County ranks 29th of 105 in the state.
If you're behind on your mortgage in Coffey County
Housing counselors approved by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development work at nonprofit agencies. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau describes free foreclosure-avoidance counseling, including help with mortgage-company conversations and available options Source CFPB.
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Kansas Legal Services
Legal aid
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HUD-approved housing counselors
Our help directory lists 1,010 agencies approved for foreclosure counseling, by state.
The score, its 14 measures and their sources, in one file. Free to use with credit to American Default Research.
Download the CSV for Coffey County · Every U.S. county (CSV)
Sources and method
- American Default Research · County Distress Index Data through Sep 2026, built from Urban Institute, Debt in America; Equifax via the St. Louis Fed; U.S. Courts, Table F-5A; Census Bureau, American Community Survey; HUD Fair Market Rents and Census income; Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates. The County Distress Index is American Default Research's own calculation; the Urban Institute does not produce or endorse it. Our methodology
- Urban Institute · Debt in America Breno Braga, Signe-Mary McKernan, Samantha Atherton, and Kassandra Martinchek, "Debt in America," last updated November 20, 2025, https://datacatalog.urban.org/dataset/debt-america-2025. Licensed under ODC-By 1.0.
- Rent on a two-bedroom and household income The rent share compares HUD fair market rent for fiscal year 2027 with Census Bureau median household income for 2024. The page calls this the typical household's income.
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Economic Accounts (CAINC4) · income shares Where the money in Coffey County comes from, 2024.
- History The agencies named in each row and the linked records above.