Lewis and Clark County, Montana

County Distress Index: Normal · 35.9 | 75,011 people · 47th most distressed in Montana
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Lewis and Clark County, MT falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 35.9 — 2593rd nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Housing Cost Burden, where a large share of households spend more than 30% of income on housing. Within Montana, it ranks 47th of 56 counties. Among its 7 neighboring counties, 6 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five domains of financial distress. Lewis and Clark County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 67.2 — above the national median.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 67.3
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 59
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 36
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 85
Homeownership Rate 72
Rent-to-Income Ratio 83
Employment & Wages 43.7
Unemployment Rate 45
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 85
Business Formation Rate 1
Community Vulnerability 34.0
Uninsured Rate 31
Disability Rate 37
Debt & Delinquency 22.7
Debt in Collections 16
Medical Debt 41
Student Loan Delinquency 7
Auto Loan Delinquency 36
Credit Card Delinquency 7
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 29
Income & Poverty 11.8
Poverty Rate 15
Income vs. State Median 11
Child Poverty Rate 9

Scores are percentile-based: 50 = national median, higher = more distressed. The median line is shown on each bar.

Neighbors and Peers

How Lewis and Clark County compares to its 7 neighboring counties and population peers.

Neighboring Counties

County Score Zone vs. Lewis and Clark County
Lewis and Clark County, MT 35.9 Normal —
Powell County, MT 49.6 Normal +13.7
Cascade County, MT 47.5 Normal +11.6
Meagher County, MT 39.9 Normal +4.0
Flathead County, MT 39.9 Normal +4.0
Broadwater County, MT 37.8 Normal +1.9
Teton County, MT 36.8 Normal +0.9
Jefferson County, MT 26.4 Healthy -9.5

Population Peers

County Score Zone vs. Lewis and Clark County
Sauk County, WI 35.9 Normal +0.0
Tazewell County, IL 36.0 Normal +0.1
Grundy County, IL 35.8 Normal -0.1
Ward County, ND 35.8 Normal -0.1
Iredell County, NC 35.8 Normal -0.1

Download Data

Export all distress indicators for Lewis and Clark County as a CSV file.

Find Help in Lewis and Clark County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Lewis and Clark County.

MONTANA LEGAL SERVICES ASSOCIATION
HELENA
800-666-6899 Website
Homeless/DisplacementRental Help
ROCKY MOUNTAIN DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL
Helena
406-447-1680 Website
Foreclosure PreventionFinancial CounselingPre-PurchaseHomebuyer Education

See all counselors in Montana →

Find an Attorney

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

State Bar of Montana Lawyer Referral Service 406-442-7660

Free Legal Aid

Legal aid organizations serving Lewis and Clark County residents at no cost.

Montana Legal Services Association (MLSA) 1-800-666-6899

American Default Research does not endorse, rate, or rank any provider. Verify attorney credentials with your state bar.

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the distress score for Lewis and Clark County, Montana?

    Lewis and Clark County has a County Distress Index score of 35.9 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 2,593rd nationally out of 3,144 counties and 47th in Montana out of 56 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Lewis and Clark County?

    The primary driver of distress in Lewis and Clark County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 67.2 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Lewis and Clark County compare to neighboring counties?

    Lewis and Clark County (35.9) can be compared to its 7 neighboring counties: Powell County, MT (49.6); Cascade County, MT (47.5); Meagher County, MT (39.9).

  • How is the County Distress Index calculated?

    The County Distress Index uses percentile-rank averaging across five domains: Debt & Delinquency, Income & Poverty, Housing Cost Burden, Employment & Wages, and Community Vulnerability. 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.

  • What is the population of Lewis and Clark County?

    Lewis and Clark County, Montana has a population of approximately 75,011 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.