Daviess County, Kentucky

County Distress Index: Elevated · 50.4 | 103,458 people · 100th most distressed in Kentucky
American Default Research

Behind on your mortgage or facing eviction? Take a 2-minute assessment to see your options.

Daviess County, KY registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 50.4 — 1554th 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 100th of 120 counties. Among its 6 neighboring counties, 4 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Daviess County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 83.6 — worse than roughly 84% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 83.6
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 84
Housing Cost Burden 58.0
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 53
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 52
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 63
Homeownership Rate 80
Structural Poverty 51.4
Unemployment Rate 34
Poverty Rate 69
Income vs. State Median 23
Child Poverty Rate 66
Disability Rate 64
Transfer Income Dependency 60
Economic Vitality 49.5
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 49
Rent-to-Income Ratio 50
Business Formation Rate 50
House Price Change (YoY) 47
Consumer Credit Distress 41.5
Debt in Collections 46
Medical Debt 39
Auto Loan Delinquency 38
Credit Card Delinquency 42
Uninsured Rate 24
Subprime Credit Population 49

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Daviess County
Daviess County, KY 50.4 Elevated —
Henderson County, KY 59.4 Elevated +9.0
Ohio County, KY 54.7 Elevated +4.3
McLean County, KY 48.1 Normal -2.3
Hancock County, KY 38.3 Normal -12.1
Warrick County, IN 28.2 Healthy -22.1
Spencer County, IN 26.5 Healthy -23.8

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Daviess County
Sandoval County, NM 50.4 Elevated 0.0
Lebanon County, PA 50.3 Elevated -0.1
Oneida County, NY 50.3 Elevated -0.1
Stanly County, NC 50.3 Elevated -0.1
Twin Falls County, ID 50.2 Elevated -0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Daviess County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Daviess County.

KENTUCKY LEGAL AID, INCORPORATED
OWENSBORO
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 Daviess 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 →

Continue Reading

Frequently Asked Questions

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

    Daviess County has a County Distress Index score of 50.4 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 1,554th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 100th in Kentucky out of 120 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Daviess County?

    The primary driver of distress in Daviess County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 83.6 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Daviess County compare to neighboring counties?

    Daviess County (50.4) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Henderson County, KY (59.4); Ohio County, KY (54.7); McLean County, KY (48.1).

  • 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). Daviess County's score of 50.4 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Daviess 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 Daviess County?

    Daviess County, Kentucky has a population of approximately 103,458 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.