Hickman County, Kentucky

County Distress Index: Normal · 46.8 | 4,447 people · 108th most distressed in Kentucky
American Default Research

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

Hickman County, KY falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 46.8 — 1792nd 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 108th of 120 counties. It scores lower than all 6 of its neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Hickman County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 81.0 — worse than roughly 81% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 81.0
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 81
Structural Poverty 72.2
Unemployment Rate 49
Poverty Rate 81
Income vs. State Median 46
Child Poverty Rate 85
Disability Rate 92
Transfer Income Dependency 84
Consumer Credit Distress 48.9
Debt in Collections 54
Medical Debt 57
Auto Loan Delinquency 63
Credit Card Delinquency 5
Uninsured Rate 48
Subprime Credit Population 61
Economic Vitality 46.0
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 53
Rent-to-Income Ratio 23
Business Formation Rate 64
House Price Change (YoY) 47
Housing Cost Burden 15.8
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 5
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 5
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 43
Homeownership Rate 48

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Hickman County
Hickman County, KY 46.8 Normal —
Mississippi County, MO 82.0 Crisis +35.1
Fulton County, KY 79.9 Serious +33.1
Weakley County, TN 60.0 Elevated +13.2
Graves County, KY 58.1 Elevated +11.3
Obion County, TN 56.9 Elevated +10.1
Carlisle County, KY 52.3 Elevated +5.5

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Hickman County
Dillingham Census Area, AK 46.8 Normal +0.0
Corson County, SD 46.9 Normal +0.1
Goliad County, TX 46.9 Normal +0.1
Mineral County, CO 46.9 Normal +0.1
White Pine County, NV 46.7 Normal -0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Hickman 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 Hickman 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 Hickman County, Kentucky?

    Hickman County has a County Distress Index score of 46.8 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 1,792nd nationally out of 3,144 counties and 108th in Kentucky out of 120 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Hickman County?

    The primary driver of distress in Hickman County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 81.0 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Hickman County compare to neighboring counties?

    Hickman County (46.8) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Mississippi County, MO (82.0); Fulton County, KY (79.9); Weakley County, TN (60.0).

  • 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 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). Hickman County's score of 46.8 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Hickman 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 Hickman County?

    Hickman County, Kentucky has a population of approximately 4,447 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a tiny county.