Unemployment in Red Willow County, Nebraska, is lower than in 95% of U.S. counties
In Red Willow County, 2.5% of the labor force was out of work, on average. That is lower than in 95% of U.S. counties.
Less distressed than 72% of U.S. counties.
What drives Red Willow County's score
In Red Willow County, housing costs are the highest-scoring part, at 54.8. Jobs are the lowest part, at 6.9.
The County Distress Index looks at five parts of household money trouble in Red Willow 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, Red Willow County is worse off than most counties on renters paying half their income or more in rent (24.8%, 2020 to 2024) and bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people (219.9, 2025).
A longer bar means more trouble. See how the county score works.
- 54.8 of 100
Housing costs
Biggest factorRenters, 2020–24 Census survey; HUD's fair market rents, fiscal year 2027
- Renters paying half their income or more in rent24.8% · 2020 to 202486th percentile
- Rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income18.2% · fiscal year 202723rd percentile
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- 52.5 of 100
Collections and bankruptcy
Credit records, August 2025; bankruptcy filings, 2025
- People with unpaid debt sent to a collector16.8% · August 202525th percentile
- Bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people219.9 · 202579th percentile
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- 46.3 of 100
Income and safety net
Poverty and income, 2024; disability and insurance, 2020–24 Census survey
- People below the poverty line11.2% · 202432nd percentile
- Children below the poverty line13.4% · 202429th percentile
- People with a disability17.2% · 2020 to 202460th percentile
- People without health insurance8.9% · 2020 to 202458th percentile
- Median household income (lower income, longer bar)$66,951 · 202449th percentile
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- 25.2 of 100
Late payments
Credit records, August 2025; credit scores, second quarter of 2026
- People with a credit card behind5.0% · August 202542nd percentile
- People with a car or retail loan behind2.7% · August 202510th percentile
- People with a subprime credit score33.0% · second quarter of 202622nd percentile
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- 6.9 of 100
Jobs
Unemployment through Sep 2026; adults not working, 2020–24 Census survey
- Unemployment rate, average over the latest year2.5% · Oct 2025 to Sep 20265th or lower percentile
- Adults 25 to 54 not working13.0% · 2020 to 20248th 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 Red Willow 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 Red Willow County, 21.0% of residents are 65 or older (Census Bureau, 2024), against 17.2% nationally that year.
Cents of every dollar of income, 2024
Red Willow County
Nebraska
United States
- Pay from work
- Investments and rent
- Benefit checks
In Red Willow County, benefit checks' share of income has tripled since 1969, reaching 25.8% in 2024, but pay from work still brings in twice as much as benefit checks
In Red Willow County, Nebraska, benefit checks' share of income tripled from 1969 to 2024, reaching 25.8%; pay from work is plotted alongside. Every fifth year and 2024 are shown.
- Benefit checks
- Pay from work
The share of households in Red Willow County getting SNAP food aid had its largest drop, from 10.1% in 2009 to 8.2% in 2010.
The share of households in Red Willow County getting SNAP food aid fell from 2009 to 2024, reaching 9.2%, with its low point on the chart in 2020
Low on the chart: 4.8% in 2020. Households getting SNAP, every year; each bar is a five-year survey estimate ending that year, so neighboring bars share most of their data, Red Willow County, Nebraska.
How Red Willow County has changed
Red Willow County's population fell most sharply after its 1984 high, from 12,715 in 1984 to 11,924 in 1989.
Red Willow County's population fell 16% from 1969 to 2024, reaching its lowest on the chart
High on the chart: 12,715 in 1984. Residents, yearly estimate, every fifth year and 2024, Red Willow County, Nebraska.
The number of jobs located in Red Willow County fell most sharply after its 2015 high, from 5,242 in 2015 to 4,831 in 2020.
The number of jobs located in Red Willow County rose 9% from 1990 to 2025
High on the chart: 5,242 in 2015. Yearly average of jobs covered by unemployment insurance, every fifth year and 2025, Red Willow County, Nebraska.
| Measure | Then | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rateBLS LAUS | 1990 2.0% | 2025 2.5% |
| People below the poverty lineCensus SAIPE | 1989 11.6% | 2024 11.2% |
| Median household incomeCensus SAIPE | 1989 $23,577 | 2024 $66,951 |
Figures are as each agency published them, not adjusted for prices.
Dated events in Red Willow County's history
1873
Red Willow County was formed in 1873. Wikipedia
1930
The county's largest recorded population was the 1930 Census count of 13,859. The 2020 Census counted 10,702, 77% of the peak. Census Bureau
1990
A tornado in June 1990 did $2.5 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
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Since 1990
13 federal disaster and emergency declarations have covered Red Willow County, 5 of them for flooding. FEMA
Red Willow County beside its neighbors
Of the five counties that border Red Willow County, in Nebraska and Kansas, two score higher. For the share of income from benefit checks, Red Willow County ranks 5th of the six; Hitchcock County is highest, at 33.1%.
| County | Score | Poverty | Benefit checks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Furnas County, NE | 33 | 13.2% | 32.3% |
| Hitchcock County, NE | 30 | 13.4% | 33.1% |
| Red Willow County, NE | 27 | 11.2% | 25.8% |
| Decatur County, KS | 20 | 11.9% | 26.0% |
| Frontier County, NE | 15 | 11.3% | 27.6% |
| Rawlins County, KS | 14 | 10.8% | 22.6% |
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 Red Willow County the poorest county in Nebraska?
No, Red Willow County's poverty rate was 11.2% in 2024, 41st highest of 93 in Nebraska (U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates). By that measure the poorest county in the state is Garden County, at 16.9%. On our distress index, which counts more than poverty, Red Willow County ranks 16th of 93 in the state.
If you're behind on your mortgage in Red Willow 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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Legal Aid of Nebraska
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 Red Willow 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 Red Willow County comes from, 2024.
- History The agencies named in each row and the linked records above.