Hancock County, Kentucky

County Distress Index: Normal · 38.3 | 8,920 people · 118th most distressed in Kentucky
American Default Research

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Hancock County, KY falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 38.2 — 2296th 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 118th of 120 counties. Among its 5 neighboring counties, 4 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Hancock County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 77.7 — worse than roughly 78% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 77.7
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 78
Housing Cost Burden 41.5
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 32
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 67
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 8
Homeownership Rate 27
Structural Poverty 39.3
Unemployment Rate 49
Poverty Rate 37
Income vs. State Median 12
Child Poverty Rate 28
Disability Rate 89
Transfer Income Dependency 37
Consumer Credit Distress 33.1
Debt in Collections 48
Medical Debt 69
Auto Loan Delinquency 5
Credit Card Delinquency 13
Uninsured Rate 7
Subprime Credit Population 43
Economic Vitality 24.0
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 5
Rent-to-Income Ratio 13
Business Formation Rate 80
House Price Change (YoY) 47

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Hancock County
Hancock County, KY 38.3 Normal —
Ohio County, KY 54.7 Elevated +16.4
Breckinridge County, KY 52.0 Elevated +13.8
Daviess County, KY 50.4 Elevated +12.1
Perry County, IN 43.4 Normal +5.1
Spencer County, IN 26.5 Healthy -11.7

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Hancock County
Thomas County, KS 38.3 Normal +0.1
Highland County, VA 38.3 Normal +0.1
Kiowa County, CO 38.4 Normal +0.1
Lincoln County, ID 38.4 Normal +0.1
Wirt County, WV 38.1 Normal -0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Hancock 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 Hancock 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

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Frequently Asked Questions

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

    Hancock County has a County Distress Index score of 38.3 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 2,296th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 118th in Kentucky out of 120 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Hancock County?

    The primary driver of distress in Hancock County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 77.7 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Hancock County compare to neighboring counties?

    Hancock County (38.3) can be compared to its 5 neighboring counties: Ohio County, KY (54.7); Breckinridge County, KY (52.0); Daviess County, KY (50.4).

  • 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 Normal 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). Hancock County's score of 38.3 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Hancock 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 Hancock County?

    Hancock County, Kentucky has a population of approximately 8,920 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a tiny county.