In Stanton County, Kansas, rent on a two-bedroom takes about one in seven dollars of the typical household's income
In Stanton County, 14.6% of the typical household's income would go to rent on a two-bedroom. That is lower than in 97% of U.S. counties.
Less distressed than 78% of U.S. counties.
What drives Stanton County's score
In Stanton County, jobs are the highest-scoring part, at 55.8. Housing costs are the lowest part, at 5.0. Almost no renters (0.0%, 2020 to 2024) pay half their income or more in rent, a lower share than in 95% of U.S. counties.
The County Distress Index looks at five parts of household money trouble in Stanton 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, Stanton County is worse off than most counties on people without health insurance (25.8%, 2020 to 2024).
A longer bar means more trouble. See how the county score works.
- 55.8 of 100
Jobs
Biggest factorUnemployment through Sep 2026; adults not working, 2020–24 Census survey
- Unemployment rate, average over the latest year3.8% · Oct 2025 to Sep 202642nd percentile
- Adults 25 to 54 not working24.1% · 2020 to 202469th percentile
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- 48.2 of 100
Late payments
Credit records, August 2025; credit scores, second quarter of 2026
- People with a credit card behindnot published for this county; scored at the state median · August 202537th percentile
- People with a car or retail loan behindnot published for this county; scored at the state median · August 202538th percentile
- People with a subprime credit score45.5% · second quarter of 202668th percentile
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- 38.4 of 100
Income and safety net
Poverty and income, 2024; disability and insurance, 2020–24 Census survey
- People below the poverty line11.1% · 202431st percentile
- Children below the poverty line13.9% · 202432nd percentile
- People with a disability11.4% · 2020 to 202410th percentile
- People without health insurance25.8% · 2020 to 2024top 5%
- Median household income (lower income, longer bar)$78,809 · 202422nd percentile
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- 20.5 of 100
Collections and bankruptcy
Credit records, August 2025; bankruptcy filings, 2025
- People with unpaid debt sent to a collector17.9% · August 202530th percentile
- Bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people52.6 · 202510th percentile
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- 5.0 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 rent0.0% · 2020 to 20245th or lower percentile
- Rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income14.6% · fiscal year 20275th or lower 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 Stanton 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 Stanton County, 15.1% of residents are 65 or older (Census Bureau, 2024), against 17.2% nationally that year.
Cents of every dollar of income, 2024
Stanton County
Kansas
United States
- Pay from work
- Investments and rent
- Benefit checks
Benefit checks' share of income in Stanton County had its largest rise, from 3.2% in 1974 to 7.7% in 1979.
In Stanton County, benefit checks' share of income has doubled since 1969, reaching 14.5% in 2024, but pay from work still brings in about five times as much as benefit checks
In Stanton County, Kansas, benefit checks' share of income doubled from 1969 to 2024, reaching 14.5%; pay from work is plotted alongside. Every fifth year and 2024 are shown.
- Benefit checks
- Pay from work
The share of households in Stanton County getting SNAP food aid had its largest drop, from 8.6% in 2009 to 4.2% in 2010.
The share of households in Stanton County getting SNAP food aid fell from 2009 to 2024, reaching 4.9%, with its low point on the chart in 2018
Low on the chart: 1.6% in 2018. Households getting SNAP, every year; each bar is a five-year survey estimate ending that year, so neighboring bars share most of their data, Stanton County, Kansas.
How Stanton County has changed
Stanton County's population fell 9% from 1969 to 2024, reaching its lowest on the chart, with most of the change between 2004 and 2009
High on the chart: 2,410 in 1979. Residents, yearly estimate, every fifth year and 2024, Stanton County, Kansas.
The number of jobs located in Stanton County had its largest drop in the last span, from 917 in 2020 to 680 in 2025.
The number of jobs located in Stanton County was at its highest on the chart in 2020 and has since fallen by about a quarter
High on the chart: 917 in 2020. Yearly average of jobs covered by unemployment insurance, every fifth year and 2025, Stanton County, Kansas.
| Measure | Then | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rateBLS LAUS | 1990 1.7% | 2025 3.9% |
| People below the poverty lineCensus SAIPE | 1989 12.6% | 2024 11.1% |
| Median household incomeCensus SAIPE | 1989 $29,485 | 2024 $78,809 |
The table uses 3.9% for 2025; the score uses 3.8% 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 Stanton County's history
1887
In 1887, Stanton County was established. Wikipedia
1930
Dust Bowl in 1930s severely affected prosperity. Wikipedia
2000
The county's largest recorded population was the 2000 Census count of 2,406. The 2020 Census counted 2,084, 87% of the peak. Census Bureau
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Since 1965
11 federal disaster and emergency declarations have covered Stanton County, 4 of them for flooding. FEMA
Stanton County beside its neighbors
Of the six counties that border Stanton County, in Kansas and Colorado, five score higher. For the share of income from benefit checks, Stanton County ranks 6th of the seven; Baca County is highest, at 35.6%.
| County | Score | Poverty | Benefit checks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prowers County, CO | 62 | 19.0% | 31.0% |
| Baca County, CO | 52 | 18.2% | 35.6% |
| Grant County, KS | 32 | 12.4% | 16.1% |
| Stevens County, KS | 30 | 8.9% | 16.6% |
| Morton County, KS | 25 | 12.2% | 20.8% |
| Stanton County, KS | 21 | 11.1% | 14.5% |
| Hamilton County, KS | 21 | 12.9% | 12.5% |
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 Stanton County the poorest county in Kansas?
No, Stanton County's poverty rate was 11.1% in 2024, 58th 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, Stanton County ranks 58th of 105 in the state.
If you're behind on your mortgage in Stanton 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 Stanton 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 Stanton County comes from, 2024.
- History The agencies named in each row and the linked records above.