Breckinridge County, Kentucky

County Distress Index: Elevated · 52.0 | 21,124 people · 98th most distressed in Kentucky
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Breckinridge County, KY registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 52.0 — 1452nd nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Legal Distress, where bankruptcy filing rates are well above the national average. Within Kentucky, it ranks 98th of 120 counties. Its score is in the middle of its 6 neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Breckinridge County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 79.1 — worse than roughly 79% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 79.1
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 79
Structural Poverty 67.3
Unemployment Rate 61
Poverty Rate 70
Income vs. State Median 34
Child Poverty Rate 70
Disability Rate 90
Transfer Income Dependency 84
Consumer Credit Distress 63.2
Debt in Collections 65
Medical Debt 74
Auto Loan Delinquency 54
Credit Card Delinquency 75
Uninsured Rate 36
Subprime Credit Population 62
Economic Vitality 40.7
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 38
Rent-to-Income Ratio 16
Business Formation Rate 78
House Price Change (YoY) 56
Housing Cost Burden 14.5
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 12
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 17
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 22
Homeownership Rate 11

Scores are percentile-based: 50 = national median, higher = more distressed.

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Breckinridge County
Breckinridge County, KY 52.0 Elevated —
Hardin County, KY 58.0 Elevated +6.0
Grayson County, KY 56.5 Elevated +4.5
Ohio County, KY 54.7 Elevated +2.7
Meade County, KY 50.0 Normal -2.0
Perry County, IN 43.4 Normal -8.6
Hancock County, KY 38.3 Normal -13.8

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Breckinridge County
Clinton County, OH 52.0 Elevated -0.0
Randolph County, IN 52.0 Elevated -0.0
Rush County, IN 52.0 Elevated +0.0
Washington County, TX 52.0 Elevated +0.0
Greene County, IN 52.0 Elevated -0.0

Download Data

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

Find Help in Breckinridge County

Find an Attorney

Kentucky Bar Association Lawyer Referral offers a lawyer referral service for bankruptcy, foreclosure defense, and consumer rights.

Kentucky Bar Association Lawyer Referral 502-564-3795

Free Legal Aid

Legal aid organizations serving Breckinridge County residents at no cost.

Legal Aid of the Bluegrass 1-800-928-4615
Kentucky Legal Aid 1-866-452-9243
Appalachian Research and Defense Fund of Kentucky (866) 277-5733
Legal Aid Society (502) 584-1254

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 Breckinridge County, Kentucky?

    Breckinridge County has a County Distress Index score of 52.0 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 1,452nd nationally out of 3,144 counties and 98th in Kentucky out of 120 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Breckinridge County?

    The primary driver of distress in Breckinridge County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 79.1 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Breckinridge County compare to neighboring counties?

    Breckinridge County (52.0) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Hardin County, KY (58.0); Grayson County, KY (56.5); Ohio County, KY (54.7).

  • How is the County Distress Index calculated?

    The County Distress Index uses PCA-weighted percentile scoring across five statistically derived factors: Consumer Credit Distress (47.5%), Housing Cost Burden (22.3%), Structural Poverty (13.6%), Economic Vitality (9.2%), and Legal Distress (7.4%). 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.

  • How often is the CDI updated?

    Annually, aligned to Census American Community Survey and Urban Institute Debt in America release windows — the slowest-moving source inputs. Between annual refreshes, faster-cadence indicators (BLS unemployment, QCEW wages) may drive light mid-year updates if a specific component moves meaningfully. Current data compiled April 14, 2026; next full refresh early 2027.

  • What does the Elevated zone mean?

    The CDI divides counties into five zones: Healthy (below 46), Normal (46–55), Elevated (55–71), Serious (71–86), and Crisis (86 and above). Breckinridge County's score of 52.0 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

  • What data sources power Breckinridge County's CDI score?

    Breckinridge County's CDI score draws on Urban Institute Debt in America (Equifax credit-bureau panel), U.S. Census Bureau (American Community Survey 5-year, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates), Bureau of Labor Statistics (LAUS, QCEW), U.S. Courts Administrative Office (F-5A bankruptcy filings), and HUD Fair Market Rents. Every number on this page traces to one of these public sources.

  • What is the population of Breckinridge County?

    Breckinridge County, Kentucky has a population of approximately 21,124 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.