Christian County, Kentucky

County Distress Index: Serious · 77.9 | 72,032 people · 3rd most distressed in Kentucky
American Default Research

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Christian County, KY shows significant household financial distress with a score of 77.9 — 108th 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 3rd of 120 counties. It scores higher than all 7 of its neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Christian County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 85.2 — worse than roughly 85% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 85.2
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 85
Consumer Credit Distress 81.8
Debt in Collections 84
Medical Debt 80
Auto Loan Delinquency 86
Credit Card Delinquency 87
Uninsured Rate 62
Subprime Credit Population 81
Housing Cost Burden 78.2
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 74
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 73
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 81
Homeownership Rate 99
Economic Vitality 70.2
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 76
Rent-to-Income Ratio 94
Business Formation Rate 41
House Price Change (YoY) 22
Structural Poverty 65.2
Unemployment Rate 67
Poverty Rate 77
Income vs. State Median 53
Child Poverty Rate 74
Disability Rate 70
Transfer Income Dependency 59

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Christian County
Christian County, KY 77.9 Serious —
Montgomery County, TN 68.5 Serious -9.4
Caldwell County, KY 59.5 Elevated -18.4
Hopkins County, KY 59.0 Elevated -18.9
Trigg County, KY 58.4 Elevated -19.5
Muhlenberg County, KY 57.4 Elevated -20.6
Todd County, KY 52.2 Elevated -25.7
Stewart County, TN 33.7 Healthy -44.2

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Christian County
Douglas County, GA 78.0 Serious +0.0
Tangipahoa Parish, LA 77.8 Serious -0.1
Ouachita Parish, LA 77.5 Serious -0.4
Darlington County, SC 77.4 Serious -0.5
Norfolk city, VA 77.3 Serious -0.7

Download Data

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

Find Help in Christian County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Christian County.

KENTUCKY LEGAL AID, INCORPORATED
Hopkinsville
270-782-5740 Website
Foreclosure PreventionPre-PurchaseRental Help

See all counselors in Kentucky →

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 Christian 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.

Need legal help? Find a foreclosure defense attorney in Kentucky →

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the distress score for Christian County, Kentucky?

    Christian County has a County Distress Index score of 77.9 out of 100, placing it in the Serious zone. It ranks 108th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 3rd in Kentucky out of 120 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Christian County?

    The primary driver of distress in Christian County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 85.2 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Christian County compare to neighboring counties?

    Christian County (77.9) can be compared to its 7 neighboring counties: Montgomery County, TN (68.5); Caldwell County, KY (59.5); Hopkins County, KY (59.0).

  • 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 Serious 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). Christian County's score of 77.9 sits in the Serious zone (71–86).

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

    Christian 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 Christian County?

    Christian County, Kentucky has a population of approximately 72,032 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.