Knox County, Kentucky

County Distress Index: Serious · 72.8 | 29,794 people · 6th most distressed in Kentucky
American Default Research

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Knox County, KY shows significant household financial distress with a score of 72.8 — 276th 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 6th of 120 counties. Its score is in the middle of its 4 neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Knox County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 96.8 — worse than roughly 97% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 96.8
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 97
Structural Poverty 95.2
Unemployment Rate 76
Poverty Rate 99
Income vs. State Median 99
Child Poverty Rate 99
Disability Rate 94
Transfer Income Dependency 99
Consumer Credit Distress 77.4
Debt in Collections 91
Medical Debt 57
Auto Loan Delinquency 71
Credit Card Delinquency 88
Uninsured Rate 35
Subprime Credit Population 89
Economic Vitality 60.1
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 40
Rent-to-Income Ratio 90
Business Formation Rate 66
House Price Change (YoY) 57
Housing Cost Burden 46.4
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 31
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 55
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 16
Homeownership Rate 83

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Knox County
Knox County, KY 72.8 Serious —
Bell County, KY 79.9 Serious +7.2
Clay County, KY 73.0 Serious +0.2
Whitley County, KY 68.2 Serious -4.6
Laurel County, KY 67.3 Serious -5.4

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Knox County
Chickasaw County, MS 72.8 Serious 0.0
Allen Parish, LA 72.7 Serious -0.0
Bryan County, OK 72.8 Serious +0.0
Jackson County, AR 72.8 Serious +0.1
Evans County, GA 72.6 Serious -0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Knox County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Knox County.

KCEOC COMMUNITY ACTION PARTNERSHIP, INC.
Gray
606-546-3152 Website
Financial CounselingHome Improvement/RehabHomeless/DisplacementPost-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 Knox 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 Knox County, Kentucky?

    Knox County has a County Distress Index score of 72.8 out of 100, placing it in the Serious zone. It ranks 276th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 6th in Kentucky out of 120 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Knox County?

    The primary driver of distress in Knox County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 96.8 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Knox County compare to neighboring counties?

    Knox County (72.8) can be compared to its 4 neighboring counties: Bell County, KY (79.9); Clay County, KY (73.0); Whitley County, KY (68.2).

  • 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 Serious 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). Knox County's score of 72.8 sits in the Serious zone (71–86).

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

    Knox 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 Knox County?

    Knox County, Kentucky has a population of approximately 29,794 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.