Hughes County, South Dakota

County Distress Index: Healthy · 23.5 | 17,624 people · 53rd most distressed in South Dakota
American Default Research

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Hughes County, SD ranks among the least distressed counties in the country at 23.5 — 3065th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Housing Cost Burden, where housing remains relatively affordable compared to local incomes. Within South Dakota, it ranks 53rd of 66 counties. Its score is in the middle of its 4 neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five domains of financial distress. Hughes County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 35.2 — above the national median.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 35.2
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 38
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 8
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 76
Homeownership Rate 46
Rent-to-Income Ratio 8
Community Vulnerability 30.3
Uninsured Rate 41
Disability Rate 20
Debt & Delinquency 20.9
Debt in Collections 19
Medical Debt 35
Student Loan Delinquency 22
Auto Loan Delinquency 25
Credit Card Delinquency 12
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 13
Income & Poverty 16.1
Poverty Rate 10
Income vs. State Median 24
Child Poverty Rate 14
Employment & Wages 15.0
Unemployment Rate 5
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 9
Business Formation Rate 31

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

Neighbors and Peers

How Hughes County compares to its 4 neighboring counties and population peers.

Neighboring Counties

County Score Zone vs. Hughes County
Hughes County, SD 23.5 Healthy —
Lyman County, SD 54.4 Elevated +30.9
Stanley County, SD 31.9 Healthy +8.4
Hyde County, SD 20.4 Healthy -3.1
Sully County, SD 19.6 Healthy -3.9

Population Peers

County Score Zone vs. Hughes County
Elbert County, CO 23.4 Healthy -0.1
Brookings County, SD 23.6 Healthy +0.1
Mitchell County, IA 23.7 Healthy +0.2
Boone County, IA 23.2 Healthy -0.3
Washington County, IL 23.9 Healthy +0.4

Download Data

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

Find Help in Hughes County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Hughes County.

SOUTH DAKOTA HOUSING DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
PIERRE
605-773-3181 Website

See all counselors in South Dakota →

Find an Attorney

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

State Bar of South Dakota Lawyer Referral Service 605-224-7554

Free Legal Aid

Legal aid organizations serving Hughes County residents at no cost.

East River Legal Services 1-800-952-3015
Dakota Plains Legal Services 1-800-658-2297

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 South Dakota →

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the distress score for Hughes County, South Dakota?

    Hughes County has a County Distress Index score of 23.5 out of 100, placing it in the Healthy zone. It ranks 3,065th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 53rd in South Dakota out of 66 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Hughes County?

    The primary driver of distress in Hughes County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 35.2 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Hughes County compare to neighboring counties?

    Hughes County (23.5) can be compared to its 4 neighboring counties: Lyman County, SD (54.4); Stanley County, SD (31.9); Hyde County, SD (20.4).

  • 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 Hughes County?

    Hughes County, South Dakota has a population of approximately 17,624 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.