Union County, South Dakota

County Distress Index: Healthy · 19.6 | 17,183 people · 62nd most distressed in South Dakota
American Default Research

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Union County, SD ranks among the least distressed counties in the country at 19.6 — 3119th 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 62nd of 66 counties. Among its 7 neighboring counties, 5 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five domains of financial distress. Union County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 44.5 — above the national median.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 44.5
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 43
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 32
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 77
Homeownership Rate 65
Rent-to-Income Ratio 5
Community Vulnerability 18.2
Uninsured Rate 20
Disability Rate 16
Debt & Delinquency 16.7
Debt in Collections 7
Medical Debt 33
Student Loan Delinquency 9
Auto Loan Delinquency 9
Credit Card Delinquency 16
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 26
Employment & Wages 13.4
Unemployment Rate 8
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 5
Business Formation Rate 27
Income & Poverty 5.1
Poverty Rate 5
Income vs. State Median 5
Child Poverty Rate 5

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

Neighbors and Peers

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

Neighboring Counties

County Score Zone vs. Union County
Union County, SD 19.6 Healthy —
Woodbury County, IA 50.8 Elevated +31.2
Dakota County, NE 47.7 Normal +28.1
Clay County, SD 41.2 Normal +21.6
Dixon County, NE 24.2 Healthy +4.6
Sioux County, IA 21.0 Healthy +1.4
Plymouth County, IA 18.5 Healthy -1.1
Lincoln County, SD 15.2 Healthy -4.4

Population Peers

County Score Zone vs. Union County
Winneshiek County, IA 19.8 Healthy +0.2
Osage County, MO 19.8 Healthy +0.2
Morgan County, UT 19.0 Healthy -0.6
Bremer County, IA 20.6 Healthy +1.0
Plymouth County, IA 18.5 Healthy -1.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Union County

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 Union 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.

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Frequently Asked Questions

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

    Union County has a County Distress Index score of 19.6 out of 100, placing it in the Healthy zone. It ranks 3,119th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 62nd in South Dakota out of 66 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Union County?

    The primary driver of distress in Union County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 44.5 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Union County compare to neighboring counties?

    Union County (19.6) can be compared to its 7 neighboring counties: Woodbury County, IA (50.8); Dakota County, NE (47.7); Clay County, SD (41.2).

  • 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 Union County?

    Union County, South Dakota has a population of approximately 17,183 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.