Cass County, North Dakota

County Distress Index: Healthy · 27.8 | 196,362 people · 30th most distressed in North Dakota
American Default Research

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Cass County, ND ranks among the least distressed counties in the country at 27.8 — 2962nd nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Housing Cost Burden, where housing costs consume a moderate share of household income. Within North Dakota, it ranks 30th of 53 counties. Among its 7 neighboring counties, 4 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five domains of financial distress. Cass County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 58.0 — above the national median.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 58.0
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 49
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 42
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 84
Homeownership Rate 98
Rent-to-Income Ratio 17
Debt & Delinquency 27.6
Debt in Collections 21
Medical Debt 24
Student Loan Delinquency 10
Auto Loan Delinquency 44
Credit Card Delinquency 33
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 35
Income & Poverty 21.0
Poverty Rate 18
Income vs. State Median 41
Child Poverty Rate 5
Community Vulnerability 16.3
Uninsured Rate 26
Disability Rate 7
Employment & Wages 15.8
Unemployment Rate 10
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 8
Business Formation Rate 29

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

Neighbors and Peers

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

Neighboring Counties

County Score Zone vs. Cass County
Cass County, ND 27.8 Healthy —
Clay County, MN 41.5 Normal +13.7
Norman County, MN 37.8 Normal +10.0
Barnes County, ND 33.9 Healthy +6.2
Richland County, ND 33.9 Healthy +6.1
Ransom County, ND 19.8 Healthy -8.0
Traill County, ND 18.8 Healthy -8.9
Steele County, ND 16.7 Healthy -11.1

Population Peers

County Score Zone vs. Cass County
Sheboygan County, WI 27.5 Healthy -0.3
Sarpy County, NE 28.0 Healthy +0.3
Cole County, MO 27.2 Healthy -0.5
Manitowoc County, WI 28.3 Healthy +0.6
Dodge County, WI 28.5 Healthy +0.8

Download Data

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

Find Help in Cass County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Cass County.

SOUTHEASTERN NORTH DAKOTA COMMUNITY ACTION AG
Fargo
701-232-2452 Website
Financial CounselingHomeless/DisplacementRental Help

See all counselors in North Dakota →

Find an Attorney

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

State Bar Association of North Dakota Lawyer Referral Service 701-255-1404

Free Legal Aid

Legal aid organizations serving Cass County residents at no cost.

Legal Services of North Dakota 1-800-634-5263

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

Need legal help? Find a foreclosure defense attorney in North Dakota →

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the distress score for Cass County, North Dakota?

    Cass County has a County Distress Index score of 27.8 out of 100, placing it in the Healthy zone. It ranks 2,962nd nationally out of 3,144 counties and 30th in North Dakota out of 53 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Cass County?

    The primary driver of distress in Cass County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 58.0 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Cass County compare to neighboring counties?

    Cass County (27.8) can be compared to its 7 neighboring counties: Clay County, MN (41.5); Norman County, MN (37.8); Barnes County, ND (33.9).

  • 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 Cass County?

    Cass County, North Dakota has a population of approximately 196,362 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.