About one in nine people in Seward County, Kansas, has a disability
In Seward County, 11.2% of people reported a disability. That is lower than in 90% of U.S. counties.
Less distressed than 59% of U.S. counties.
What drives Seward County's score
In Seward County, late payments on loans are the highest-scoring part, at 67.0. Housing costs are the lowest part, at 23.2. About one in eight renters (12.0%, 2020 to 2024) pays half their income or more in rent, a lower share than in 81% of U.S. counties.
The County Distress Index looks at five parts of household money trouble in Seward 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, Seward County is worse off than most counties on people without health insurance (12.5%, 2020 to 2024).
A longer bar means more trouble. See how the county score works.
- 67.0 of 100
Late payments
Biggest factorCredit 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 behind7.1% · August 202574th percentile
- People with a subprime credit score46.0% · second quarter of 202669th percentile
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- 46.4 of 100
Jobs
Unemployment through Sep 2026; adults not working, 2020–24 Census survey
- Unemployment rate, average over the latest year3.6% · Oct 2025 to Sep 202634th percentile
- Adults 25 to 54 not working22.0% · 2020 to 202458th percentile
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- 45.9 of 100
Income and safety net
Poverty and income, 2024; disability and insurance, 2020–24 Census survey
- People below the poverty line13.1% · 202449th percentile
- Children below the poverty line16.7% · 202447th percentile
- People with a disability11.2% · 2020 to 20249th percentile
- People without health insurance12.5% · 2020 to 202480th percentile
- Median household income (lower income, longer bar)$69,448 · 202442nd percentile
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- 38.6 of 100
Collections and bankruptcy
Credit records, August 2025; bankruptcy filings, 2025
- People with unpaid debt sent to a collector22.8% · August 202548th percentile
- Bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people85.4 · 202528th percentile
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- 23.2 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 rent12.0% · 2020 to 202418th percentile
- Rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income18.6% · fiscal year 202727th 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 Seward 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 Seward County, 10.7% of residents are 65 or older (Census Bureau, 2024), against 17.2% nationally that year.
Cents of every dollar of income, 2024
Seward County
Kansas
United States
- Pay from work
- Investments and rent
- Benefit checks
Benefit checks' share of income in Seward County had its largest drop, from 17.2% in 2009 to 13.6% in 2014.
In Seward County, benefit checks' share of income has tripled since 1969, reaching 17.9% in 2024, but pay from work still brings in about four times as much as benefit checks
In Seward County, Kansas, benefit checks' share of income tripled from 1969 to 2024, reaching 17.9%; pay from work is plotted alongside. Every fifth year and 2024 are shown.
- Benefit checks
- Pay from work
The share of households in Seward County getting SNAP food aid had its largest drop, from 11.0% in 2017 to 7.6% in 2018.
The share of households in Seward County getting SNAP food aid was at its highest on the chart in 2015 and has since fallen by about a quarter
Low on the chart: 6.0% 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, Seward County, Kansas.
How Seward County has changed
Seward County's population had its largest rise, from 20,262 in 1994 to 22,206 in 1999.
Seward County's population was at its highest on the chart in 2014 and is down 10% since
High on the chart: 23,682 in 2014. Residents, yearly estimate, every fifth year and 2024, Seward County, Kansas.
The jobs count covers work located in the county; the population count covers residents.
The number of jobs located in Seward County rose 14% from 1990 to 2025, with most of the change between 1990 and 1995
High on the chart: 11,845 in 2000. Yearly average of jobs covered by unemployment insurance, every fifth year and 2025, Seward County, Kansas.
| Measure | Then | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rateBLS LAUS | 1990 4.0% | 2025 3.2% |
| People below the poverty lineCensus SAIPE | 1989 13.9% | 2024 13.1% |
| Median household incomeCensus SAIPE | 1989 $24,717 | 2024 $69,448 |
The table uses 3.2% for 2025; the score uses 3.6% 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 Seward County's history
1910
Hard winter wheat replaced broom corn as primary crop by 1910. Wikipedia
1920
Hugoton Gas Field discovered 1920. Wikipedia
1930
Dust Bowl severely affected prosperity in 1930s. Wikipedia
2003
A tornado in May 2003 did $8 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2003
A tornado in May 2003 did $6 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2003
Hail in May 2003 did $2 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2003
A thunderstorm in June 2003 did $8 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2010
The county's largest recorded population was the 2010 Census count of 22,952. The 2020 Census counted 21,964, 96% of the peak. Census Bureau
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Since 1973
12 federal disaster and emergency declarations have covered Seward County, 5 of them for flooding. FEMA
Seward County beside its neighbors
Seward County scores higher than all five counties that border it, in Kansas and Oklahoma. Of the group, Seward County gets the largest share of its income from benefit checks (17.9%).
| County | Score | Poverty | Benefit checks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seward County, KS | 40 | 13.1% | 17.9% |
| Texas County, OK | 40 | 13.5% | 12.0% |
| Stevens County, KS | 30 | 8.9% | 16.6% |
| Beaver County, OK | 15 | 12.5% | 15.5% |
| Meade County, KS | 12 | 10.6% | 15.9% |
| Haskell County, KS | 10 | 10.1% | 12.2% |
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 Seward County the poorest county in Kansas?
No, Seward County's poverty rate was 13.1% in 2024, 24th 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, Seward County ranks 23rd of 105 in the state.
If you're behind on your mortgage in Seward 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 Seward 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 Seward County comes from, 2024.
- History The agencies named in each row and the linked records above.