Madison County, Nebraska

County Distress Index: Normal · 35.7 | 35,627 people · 52nd most distressed in Nebraska
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Madison County, NE falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 35.7 — 2611th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Housing Cost Burden, where housing remains relatively affordable compared to local incomes. Within Nebraska, it ranks 52nd of 93 counties. Among its 6 neighboring counties, 5 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five domains of financial distress. Madison County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 44.6 — above the national median.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 44.6
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 32
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 32
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 65
Homeownership Rate 79
Rent-to-Income Ratio 15
Employment & Wages 38.6
Unemployment Rate 13
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 17
Business Formation Rate 86
Community Vulnerability 35.1
Uninsured Rate 51
Disability Rate 19
Debt & Delinquency 31.3
Debt in Collections 20
Medical Debt 47
Student Loan Delinquency 13
Auto Loan Delinquency 19
Credit Card Delinquency 37
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 53
Income & Poverty 29.0
Poverty Rate 34
Income vs. State Median 39
Child Poverty Rate 14

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

Neighbors and Peers

How Madison County compares to its 6 neighboring counties and population peers.

Neighboring Counties

County Score Zone vs. Madison County
Madison County, NE 35.7 Normal —
Wayne County, NE 38.0 Normal +2.3
Platte County, NE 29.3 Healthy -6.4
Antelope County, NE 28.5 Healthy -7.2
Stanton County, NE 26.3 Healthy -9.4
Pierce County, NE 23.3 Healthy -12.4
Boone County, NE 18.7 Healthy -17.0

Population Peers

County Score Zone vs. Madison County
Steuben County, IN 35.7 Normal +0.0
Douglas County, IL 35.7 Normal -0.0
Livingston County, IL 35.7 Normal +0.0
Fillmore County, MN 35.7 Normal -0.0
Stutsman County, ND 35.7 Normal -0.0

Download Data

Export all distress indicators for Madison County as a CSV file.

Find Help in Madison County

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

Nebraska State Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service 402-475-7091

Free Legal Aid

Legal aid organizations serving Madison County residents at no cost.

Legal Aid of Nebraska 1-877-250-2016

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the distress score for Madison County, Nebraska?

    Madison County has a County Distress Index score of 35.7 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 2,611th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 52nd in Nebraska out of 93 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Madison County?

    The primary driver of distress in Madison County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 44.6 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Madison County compare to neighboring counties?

    Madison County (35.7) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Wayne County, NE (38.0); Platte County, NE (29.3); Antelope County, NE (28.5).

  • 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 Madison County?

    Madison County, Nebraska has a population of approximately 35,627 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.