Fayette County, Kentucky

County Distress Index: Elevated · 55.8 | 320,154 people · 83rd most distressed in Kentucky
American Default Research

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Fayette County, KY registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 55.8 — 1217th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Housing Cost Burden, where a large share of households spend more than 30% of income on housing. Within Kentucky, it ranks 83rd 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. Fayette County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 84.6 — worse than roughly 85% of U.S. counties.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 84.6
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 85
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 84
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 67
Homeownership Rate 97
Legal Distress 74.2
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 74
Consumer Credit Distress 50.5
Debt in Collections 56
Medical Debt 44
Auto Loan Delinquency 55
Credit Card Delinquency 45
Uninsured Rate 38
Subprime Credit Population 54
Economic Vitality 39.5
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 38
Rent-to-Income Ratio 65
Business Formation Rate 6
House Price Change (YoY) 39
Structural Poverty 28.5
Unemployment Rate 19
Poverty Rate 66
Income vs. State Median 16
Child Poverty Rate 52
Disability Rate 23
Transfer Income Dependency 10

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Fayette County
Fayette County, KY 55.8 Elevated —
Bourbon County, KY 64.8 Elevated +9.0
Clark County, KY 57.4 Elevated +1.6
Madison County, KY 56.6 Elevated +0.8
Jessamine County, KY 47.0 Normal -8.8
Scott County, KY 42.1 Normal -13.8
Woodford County, KY 34.6 Healthy -21.2

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Fayette County
Bristol County, MA 55.8 Elevated +0.0
Lexington County, SC 55.9 Elevated +0.1
Virginia Beach city, VA 55.5 Elevated -0.3
Charleston County, SC 55.5 Elevated -0.3
Knox County, TN 55.5 Elevated -0.3

Download Data

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

Find Help in Fayette County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Fayette County.

APPRISEN - LEXINGTON
LEXINGTON
800-355-2227 Website
Foreclosure PreventionFinancial CounselingPre-PurchaseRental Help
COMMUNITY VENTURES CORPORATION
Lexington
859-231-0054 Website
Foreclosure PreventionFinancial CounselingHome Improvement/RehabPost-Purchase
REACH, INC.
Lexington
859-455-8057
Foreclosure PreventionFinancial CounselingFinancial CounselingPost-Purchase

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 Fayette 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 Fayette County, Kentucky?

    Fayette County has a County Distress Index score of 55.8 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 1,217th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 83rd in Kentucky out of 120 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Fayette County?

    The primary driver of distress in Fayette County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 84.6 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Fayette County compare to neighboring counties?

    Fayette County (55.8) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Bourbon County, KY (64.8); Clark County, KY (57.4); Madison County, KY (56.6).

  • 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). Fayette County's score of 55.8 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Fayette 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 Fayette County?

    Fayette County, Kentucky has a population of approximately 320,154 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a large county.