Kansas Financial Distress Profile
Composite distress data for 105 counties, updated quarterly from federal sources. Household debt, delinquency, foreclosure law, and county-level distress scores compared to national averages.
· Data from NY Fed, CFPB, BLS, US Courts, Q4 2025
Behind on your mortgage in Kansas? See your options under Kansas law →
Kansas ranks #36 nationally for household financial distress. County Distress Index details are listed separately for its 105 counties. The national State Distress Index average is 50.0.
How Does Kansas Compare to the National Average?
Kansas is above the national average on 0 of 5 key household distress metrics. Credit card delinquency stands at 10.7% (below the 12.4% national rate), auto loan delinquency at 4.0%, and total debt per capita at $46,720.
Since 2019, credit card delinquency in Kansas has risen 4.3pp and total household debt has grown 20.7%. Most metrics remain below the national baseline.
Key Statistics at a Glance
State Distress Index: Kansas
Movement since 2006
Since 2006, Kansas has eased from the 31st-most distressed jurisdiction to the 36th-most distressed, as of 2025 Q1. Its composite State Distress Index score fell from 45.7 to 37.3 over the same span.
Quarter-aligned back-series. Each quarter re-ranks all 51 jurisdictions on that quarter's own data, so a state's position here can sit several spots from the current reading above, which uses each input's latest value.
Domain Breakdown
The national American Distress Index reads 43.8 (Typical). On average, its inputs sit higher than in 44% of their own quarterly histories. Kansas's State Distress Index of 38.5 (low-moderate state distress) is computed from 4 equal-weighted domains covering delinquency, default and legal signals, housing-basis debt burden, and labor.
Kansas vs. National Average
Delinquency rates measure the share of loan accounts 30 or more days past due. Higher rates signal greater household financial stress. Debt and balance figures are per capita, adjusted for state population.
Download all states (CSV)Kansas vs. National: 5 Key Metrics (Q4 2025)
Source: NY Fed Consumer Credit Panel / Equifax, Q4 2025.
Similar States by Distress Level
States ranked closest to Kansas (#36) on the State Distress Index. Peer comparison reveals whether distress patterns are regional or structural.
| State | SDI Score | Score Label | Highest Domain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kansas | 38.5 | low-moderate state distress | Default & Legal |
| Colorado | 43.3 | moderate-low state distress | Debt Burden (housing basis) |
| Massachusetts | 42.6 | moderate-low state distress | Debt Burden (housing basis) |
| Hawaii | 32.8 | low-moderate state distress | Debt Burden (housing basis) |
Change Since 2019
Pre-pandemic 2019 values provide a baseline for how distress has evolved. Credit card and auto loan delinquency have risen sharply in most states since pandemic-era forbearance protections expired.
| Metric | 2019 | 2025 | Change | Nat'l 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Credit Card Delinquency | 6.4% | 10.7% | +4.3pp | 12.4% |
| Auto Loan Delinquency | 3.4% | 4.0% | +0.6pp | 5.2% |
| Mortgage Delinquency | 0.73% | 0.82% | +0.1pp | 0.94% |
| Total Debt per Capita | $38,720 | $46,720 | +20.7% | $63,200 |
| CC Balance per Capita | $2,930 | $3,670 | +25.3% | $4,350 |
Kansas Foreclosure Law Summary
Understanding your state's foreclosure process is critical if you fall behind on mortgage payments. Kansas primarily uses judicial foreclosure.
Kansas requires judicial foreclosure for residential mortgages. The lender files a civil foreclosure action in the District Court of the county where the property is located. After judgment, the county sheriff conducts a public auction sale.
- Post-sale redemption: 12 months from the date of the sheriff's sale (standard residential). Shortened …
Unlimited Homestead, but Delinquency Tells the Story
Kansas's unlimited homestead exemption protects home equity from most creditors — one of the strongest protections in the country. But homestead protection doesn't prevent households from falling behind. Credit card delinquency of 10.7% sits below the national 12.4%, and the state's Distress Index reads 38.5 (low-moderate state distress). The exemption helps in bankruptcy — it doesn't stop the path there.
Distress by County
The County Distress Index scores every county in Kansas on a 0-100 scale using five equal-weighted domains: delinquency, default and legal, debt burden, labor, and safety net and buffer. Kansas's 105 counties average 37.5 — below the national county mean of 50.0.
Score Label Distribution
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Most Distressed Counties
| County | Score | Score Label | Top Driver |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wyandotte County | 76.0 | high county distress | Default & Legal |
| Geary County | 65.1 | moderate-high county distress | Delinquency |
| Bourbon County | 64.4 | moderate-high county distress | Labor |
| Montgomery County | 63.0 | moderate-high county distress | Safety Net & Buffer |
| Crawford County | 58.9 | moderate county distress | Safety Net & Buffer |
Wyandotte County ranks #261 most distressed nationally out of 3,144 counties.
Least Distressed Counties
| County | Score | Score Label | Top Domain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gray County | 11.2 | very low county distress | Safety Net & Buffer |
| Nemaha County | 13.5 | very low county distress | Debt Burden (housing basis) |
| Pottawatomie County | 17.4 | very low county distress | Labor |
| Sheridan County | 18.5 | very low county distress | Safety Net & Buffer |
| Ness County | 18.6 | very low county distress | Safety Net & Buffer |
The gap between Kansas's most and least distressed counties is 64.7 points — Wyandotte County (76.0, high county distress) vs. Gray County (11.2, very low county distress). That spread reveals two very different economic realities within the same state.
Explore all 105 Kansas counties →CFPB Mortgage Complaints in Kansas
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has received 1,759 mortgage complaints from Kansas since 2012 — 59.8 per 100,000 residents, below the national rate of 133.2 per 100K. Kansas ranks #46 of 51 jurisdictions for complaint density.
| Year | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Complaints | 100 | 109 | 107 | 96 | 95 | 130 |
Source: CFPB Consumer Complaint Database. Filed a mortgage complaint? Search the complaint database.
Bankruptcy Filings: Kansas
The Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts filing rate reports annual cases per resident. It does not identify household causes, motives, assets, income, or case outcomes. Kansas's filing rate is below the national average.
Source: U.S. Courts, Administrative Office. Table F-2: Cases Commenced by Chapter. Per-capita rates use 2024 Census population estimates.
Credit Distress: Kansas
The Philadelphia Fed Consumer Credit Explorer tracks credit health metrics from Equifax data. 14.0% of Kansas residents have debt in collections — above the national rate of 13.9%. 14.0% have subprime credit scores (below 620), and 36.0% are credit-constrained.
Source: Philadelphia Fed Consumer Credit Explorer. Data from NY Fed Consumer Credit Panel / Equifax. 2025 Q1.
Economic Context: Kansas
SNAP enrollment and unemployment rates provide upstream context for household debt distress. Higher food assistance enrollment signals that more families are struggling with basic expenses, while elevated unemployment directly reduces income available for debt service.
Sources: USDA Food and Nutrition Service, BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics. Population: U.S. Census Bureau 2024 estimates.
Safety Net Strength: Kansas
The Safety Net Index measures how much support infrastructure is available to households in financial distress — combining healthcare coverage, food assistance, emergency housing funds, and legal protections. Kansas scores 21.5 out of 100 (Minimal), ranking #50 of 51 jurisdictions.
Component Breakdown
Sources: Kaiser Family Foundation (Medicaid, 2024), USDA FNS (SNAP, 2025), U.S. Treasury HAF program status, state foreclosure statutes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the credit card delinquency rate in Kansas?
The credit card delinquency rate in Kansas is 10.7% as of Q4 2025, ranking #31 among all states and DC. The national average is 12.4%. This rate has risen from 6.4% in 2019.
How does Kansas's household debt compare to the national average?
Kansas residents carry $46,720 in total debt per capita, below the national average of $63,200. Debt per capita has grown 20.7% since 2019. Kansas ranks #46 nationally for total household debt per capita.
What is the auto loan delinquency rate in Kansas?
Auto loan delinquency in Kansas stands at 4.0% as of Q4 2025, below the national rate of 5.2%. This ranks #30 nationally. The rate has risen from 3.4% in 2019.
What type of foreclosure process does Kansas use?
Kansas primarily uses judicial foreclosure. This means foreclosures must go through the court system, giving homeowners more time and procedural protections. See our full Kansas foreclosure law guide for timelines, protections, and legal resources.
Is Kansas above or below the national average for financial distress?
Kansas scores 38.5 on the State Distress Index (low-moderate state distress), ranking #36 of 51 jurisdictions. That is 11.5 points below the national state average of 50.0. This composite score is built from 4 domains: delinquency, default and legal, debt burden on a housing basis, and labor. Separately, the national American Distress Index reads 43.8 (Typical) for the country over time. On average, its inputs sit higher than in 44% of their own quarterly histories.
How many CFPB mortgage complaints have been filed in Kansas?
The CFPB has received 1,759 mortgage complaints from Kansas since 2012, a rate of 59.8 per 100,000 residents. This ranks #46 of 51 jurisdictions. The national average is 133.2 per 100K. Companies responded to 97.8% of Kansas complaints within the required timeframe.
What is the bankruptcy filing rate in Kansas?
Kansas had 4,213 bankruptcy filings in the 12-month period ending Dec 2025, a rate of 142.2 per 100,000 residents — below the national rate of 169.1 per 100K. This ranks #26 of 51 jurisdictions. Chapter 7 filings account for 53.6% and Chapter 13 for 44.7%. Filings changed +10.1% year-over-year.
What percentage of people in Kansas have debt in collections?
14.0% of individuals in Kansas have debt in collections, above the national rate of 13.9%. This ranks #21 of 51 jurisdictions. Additionally, 14.0% of Kansas residents have subprime credit scores (below 620), compared to 16.9% nationally. Data from the Philadelphia Fed Consumer Credit Explorer (NY Fed / Equifax).
What is the SNAP enrollment rate in Kansas?
165,664 residents of Kansas receive SNAP benefits, an enrollment rate of 5.6% — below the national rate of 10.9%. This ranks #47 of 51 jurisdictions. SNAP participation has changed -11.0% year-over-year. The pre-pandemic rate was 6.5%.
How strong is Kansas's financial safety net?
Kansas scores 21.5 out of 100 on the Safety Net Index, ranking #50 of 51 jurisdictions (Minimal). The score combines Medicaid coverage (12.9% enrollment rate, non-expansion state), SNAP enrollment (5.6%), Homeowner Assistance Fund status (exhausted), and foreclosure legal protections. The national average is 47.8.
Which Kansas counties have the highest financial distress?
Wyandotte County is the most distressed county in Kansas with a County Distress Index score of 76.0 · high county distress, ranking #261 nationally out of 3,144 counties. Geary County (65.1 · moderate-high county distress), Bourbon County (64.4 · moderate-high county distress), Montgomery County (63.0 · moderate-high county distress) round out the top distressed counties. Gray County is the least distressed at 11.2 · very low county distress. See all 105 counties at /counties/kansas/.
How long can foreclosure take in Kansas?
Kansas uses judicial foreclosure, meaning every foreclosure goes through the court system. In Kansas, the bank can foreclose in roughly 180–270 days from first missed payment to sale — though individual cases vary with cure periods, mediation, postponements, court backlogs, and bankruptcy filings. Homeowners have a right to cure: The borrower may cure the default at any time before the sheriff's sale by payin…. The homestead exemption is Unlimited value. Full details at /help/foreclosure/kansas/.
Where does Kansas rank for financial distress?
Kansas scores 38.5 on the State Distress Index (low-moderate state distress), ranking #36 of 51 jurisdictions. Most metrics fall below national averages. The highest SDI domain is Default & Legal. County Distress Index details are listed separately by county. The safety net ranks #50 (Minimal) — non-Medicaid-expansion state.
Data Sources
NY Fed Consumer Credit Panel
State-level household debt and delinquency statistics from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, based on Equifax credit bureau data. Updated quarterly.
American Distress Index
Composite index tracking U.S. household financial distress across five equal-weighted domains. National score as of the latest available quarter.
Kansas Foreclosure Statutes
State foreclosure law data compiled from primary statutory sources and validated against legal databases. Last verified 2026-03-10.
CFPB Complaint Database
Mortgage complaints filed with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, 2012–present. Density calculated using 2024 Census population estimates.
USDA SNAP State Activity
Monthly SNAP participation by state from the USDA Food and Nutrition Service. Enrollment rates computed against 2024 Census population estimates.
U.S. Bankruptcy Courts
Annual bankruptcy filings by chapter and district from the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts. Per-capita rates computed against 2024 Census population estimates.
Philadelphia Fed Consumer Credit Explorer
Quarterly credit health metrics (collections, subprime share, delinquency, credit-constrained rates) from Equifax via the NY Fed Consumer Credit Panel.
Safety Net Index
Composite score from KFF Medicaid enrollment (2024), USDA SNAP participation (2025), U.S. Treasury HAF program status, and state foreclosure legal protections.