Jessamine County, Kentucky

County Distress Index: Normal · 47.0 | 55,017 people · 107th most distressed in Kentucky
American Default Research

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Jessamine County, KY falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 47.0 — 1775th 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 107th 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. Jessamine County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 78.7 — worse than roughly 79% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 78.7
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 79
Housing Cost Burden 59.5
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 58
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 59
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 47
Homeownership Rate 73
Economic Vitality 54.3
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 72
Rent-to-Income Ratio 43
Business Formation Rate 25
House Price Change (YoY) 55
Consumer Credit Distress 42.3
Debt in Collections 48
Medical Debt 53
Auto Loan Delinquency 29
Credit Card Delinquency 34
Uninsured Rate 35
Subprime Credit Population 50
Structural Poverty 21.1
Unemployment Rate 27
Poverty Rate 23
Income vs. State Median 8
Child Poverty Rate 28
Disability Rate 36
Transfer Income Dependency 15

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Jessamine County
Jessamine County, KY 47.0 Normal —
Garrard County, KY 56.9 Elevated +9.8
Madison County, KY 56.6 Elevated +9.5
Mercer County, KY 56.1 Elevated +9.0
Fayette County, KY 55.8 Elevated +8.8
Woodford County, KY 34.6 Healthy -12.4

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Jessamine County
Montcalm County, MI 47.1 Normal +0.0
Santa Rosa County, FL 47.0 Normal -0.0
Lincoln County, MO 47.1 Normal +0.1
Oconee County, SC 47.0 Normal -0.1
San Benito County, CA 47.2 Normal +0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Jessamine 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 Jessamine 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 Jessamine County, Kentucky?

    Jessamine County has a County Distress Index score of 47.0 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 1,775th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 107th in Kentucky out of 120 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Jessamine County?

    The primary driver of distress in Jessamine County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 78.7 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Jessamine County compare to neighboring counties?

    Jessamine County (47.0) can be compared to its 5 neighboring counties: Garrard County, KY (56.9); Madison County, KY (56.6); Mercer County, KY (56.1).

  • 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 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). Jessamine County's score of 47.0 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Jessamine 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 Jessamine County?

    Jessamine County, Kentucky has a population of approximately 55,017 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.