In Humboldt County, Nevada, rent on a two-bedroom takes about one in six dollars of the typical household's income
In Humboldt County, 17.5% of the median household's income would go to rent on a two-bedroom at HUD's fair market rent (HUD and Census Bureau, HUD rent fiscal year 2027; household income 2024). That is lower than in 82% of U.S. counties.
Less distressed than 69% of U.S. counties.
What drives Humboldt County's score
In Humboldt County, collections and bankruptcy is the highest-scoring part, at 56.0. Housing costs are the lowest part, at 28.8. Rent on a two-bedroom takes 17.5% of the median household's income (fiscal year 2027), lower than in 82% of U.S. counties.
The County Distress Index combines five things we measure for every county: jobs, late payments on loans, income and the safety net, collections and bankruptcy, and housing costs. Each gets a score from 0 to 100; the higher the score, the worse off the county is compared with others.
Humboldt County isn't among the worst-off quarter of U.S. counties on any measure.
The five parts count equally; together they hold 14 measures. Under each part, a bar shows where Humboldt County ranks among all 3,144 U.S. counties on that measure, as a percentile: the share of counties it is higher than. A longer bar means more trouble.
- 56.0 of 100
Collections and bankruptcy
Biggest factorCredit records, August 2025; bankruptcy filings, 2025
- People with unpaid debt sent to a collector27.8% · August 202567th percentile
- Bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people116.7 · 202544th percentile
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- 39.4 of 100
Late payments
Credit records, August 2025; credit scores, Q4 2025
- People with a car or retail loan behind2.5% · August 20258th percentile
- People with a credit card behind5.8% · August 202555th percentile
- People with a subprime credit score24.3% · Q4 202553rd percentile
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- 37.2 of 100
Jobs
Adults not working, 2020–24 Census survey; unemployment through Aug 2026
- Adults 25 to 54 not working19.8% · 2020 to 202444th percentile
- Unemployment rate, 12-month average3.5% · Sep 2025 to Aug 202629th percentile
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- 34.0 of 100
Income and safety net
Poverty and income, 2024; disability and insurance, 2020–24 Census survey
- Children below the poverty line14.5% · 202436th percentile
- People with a disability14.5% · 2020 to 202435th percentile
- Median household income (lower income, longer bar)$85,433 · 202413th percentile
- People below the poverty line10.6% · 202427th percentile
- People without health insurance8.7% · 2020 to 202457th percentile
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- 28.8 of 100
Housing costs
HUD's fair market rents, fiscal year 2027; renters, 2020–24 Census survey
- Rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income17.5% · fiscal year 202717th percentile
- Renters paying half their income or more in rent16.5% · 2020 to 202440th percentile
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Sources: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Fair Market Rents and U.S. Census Bureau income; Census Bureau, American Community Survey; Urban Institute, Debt in America; Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, Table F-5A; Equifax via the St. Louis Fed; 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 Aug 2026.
Where the money in Humboldt County comes from
The Bureau of Economic Analysis adds up all the income that reaches the people of a county and splits it three ways: pay from work, income from investments and rent, and benefit checks.
Cents of every dollar of income, 2024
Humboldt County
Nevada
United States
- Pay from work
- Investments and rent
- Benefit checks
In Humboldt County in 2024, pay from work was 67 cents of every dollar of income. Income from investments and rentals was 14 cents. Benefit checks were 20 cents. Across the country, pay is 61 cents of the dollar and benefit checks are 18.
Benefit checks have grown from 7 cents of every dollar in 1969, but pay from work still brings in more.
In Humboldt County, benefit checks rose from 7 to 20 cents of every dollar
Benefit checks and pay from work as shares of all personal income, Humboldt County, Nevada: 19.5% and 66.8% in 2024. Yearly, 1969–2024.
Use this chart Free to use with credit
The quote: In 2024, benefit checks made up 19.5% of all personal income in Humboldt County, Nevada (U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, CAINC4).
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 Humboldt County, 16.5% of residents are 65 or older (Census Bureau, 2024), against 17.2% nationally.
How Humboldt County has changed
The number of people living in Humboldt County more than doubled between 1969 and 2024, from 6,452 to 17,116. The number of jobs located there grew by about 28% from 1990 to 2024.
Unemployment fell from 5.3% in 1990 to 3.8% in 2025.
| Measure | Then | Now |
|---|---|---|
| People living in the countyBEA | 1969 6,452 | 2024 17,116 |
| Jobs located in the countyBLS QCEW | 1990 6,121 | 2024 7,812 |
| Unemployment rateBLS LAUS | 1990 5.3% | 2025 3.8% |
| People below the poverty lineCensus SAIPE | 1989 10.4% | 2024 10.6% |
| Median household income (not adjusted for prices)Census SAIPE | 1989 $31,601 | 2024 $85,433 |
| Share of income from benefit checksBEA | 1969 7.0% | 2024 19.5% |
Figures are as each agency published them, not adjusted for prices. We don't chart the distress score over time because it compares counties at one moment.
Dated events in Humboldt County's history
Largest decennial census count
The county's largest recorded population was the 2020 Census count of 17,285, which is also its most recent census. Census Bureau
2017
Flood: $3 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
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Since 1977
8 federal disaster and emergency declarations have covered Humboldt County, 2 of them for flooding. FEMA
Storms are listed if they did $1 million or more in damage or killed someone.
Humboldt County beside its neighbors
Of the seven counties that border Humboldt County, in Nevada, Idaho and Oregon, six score higher. For the share of income from benefit checks, Humboldt County ranks 5th of the eight; Malheur County is highest, at 40.2%.
| County | Score | Poverty | Benefit checks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Owyhee County, ID | 59 | 13.2% | 21.5% |
| Malheur County, OR | 59 | 18.5% | 40.2% |
| Washoe County, NV | 53 | 9.4% | 13.5% |
| Harney County, OR | 53 | 14.3% | 32.4% |
| Lander County, NV | 52 | 10.9% | 13.9% |
| Pershing County, NV | 44 | 18.3% | 27.0% |
| Humboldt County, NV | 30 | 10.6% | 19.5% |
| Elko County, NV | 28 | 9.5% | 15.7% |
Distress score: American Default Research, County Distress Index, data through Aug 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 Humboldt County the poorest county in Nevada?
No, Humboldt County's poverty rate was 10.6% in 2024, 12th highest of 17 in Nevada (U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates). By that measure the poorest county in the state is Pershing County, at 18.3%. On our distress index, which counts more than poverty, Humboldt County ranks 15th of 17 in the state.
Humboldt County in photographs
Places in Humboldt County from Wikimedia Commons, each captioned in its photographer's own words.
Humboldt County Courthouse in Winnemucca, Nevada, United States.
On September 15, 2009 UP 844 ran from Elko, NV to Sparks.
Photo: Drew Jacksich from San Jose, CA, The Republic of California via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0
Humboldt County, Nevada: common questions
What is the poverty rate in Humboldt County, Nevada?
10.6% in 2024, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates: about one in nine people. Among children it was 14.5%.
Is Humboldt County the poorest county in Nevada?
No, Humboldt County's poverty rate was 10.6% in 2024, 12th highest of 17 in Nevada (U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates). By that measure the poorest county in the state is Pershing County, at 18.3%. On our distress index, which counts more than poverty, Humboldt County ranks 15th of 17 in the state.
What is the population of Humboldt County, Nevada?
About 17,116 people in 2024, by the Bureau of Economic Analysis's count. The 2020 Census counted 17,285, the most of any census.
How is the County Distress Index calculated?
We rank every U.S. county on 14 federal measures of money trouble, grouped into five equally weighted parts, and average them. The published score is the share of the other 3,143 counties with a lower average. The methodology lists every measure and its source.
If you're behind on your mortgage in Humboldt County
A U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development-approved housing counselor works at a nonprofit agency approved by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The counseling to avoid foreclosure is free, and a counselor can help you talk to your mortgage company and understand what it offers, according to the Consumer Financial Protection BureauSourceCFPB.
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Nevada Legal Services
Legal aid
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State Bar of Nevada Lawyer Referral Service
Legal aid
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HUD-approved housing counselors
Counseling to avoid foreclosure is free. Our help directory lists 1,313 approved agencies 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 Humboldt County · Every U.S. county (CSV)
Sources and method
- American Default Research · County Distress Index Data through Aug 2026, built from HUD Fair Market Rents and Census income; Census Bureau, American Community Survey; Urban Institute, Debt in America; U.S. Courts, Table F-5A; Equifax via the St. Louis Fed; Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates. Our methodology
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Economic Accounts (CAINC4) · income shares Where the money in Humboldt County comes from, 2024.
- History The agencies named in each row and the linked records above.