Laurel County, Kentucky

County Distress Index: Serious · 67.3 | 63,296 people · 23rd most distressed in Kentucky
American Default Research

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Laurel County, KY shows significant household financial distress with a score of 67.3 — 527th 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 23rd of 120 counties. Among its 7 neighboring counties, 5 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Laurel County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 97.1 — worse than roughly 97% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 97.1
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 97
Structural Poverty 78.3
Unemployment Rate 72
Poverty Rate 91
Income vs. State Median 66
Child Poverty Rate 86
Disability Rate 73
Transfer Income Dependency 85
Consumer Credit Distress 77.0
Debt in Collections 83
Medical Debt 69
Auto Loan Delinquency 71
Credit Card Delinquency 84
Uninsured Rate 51
Subprime Credit Population 85
Housing Cost Burden 43.6
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 34
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 52
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 17
Homeownership Rate 64
Economic Vitality 35.3
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 19
Rent-to-Income Ratio 42
Business Formation Rate 59
House Price Change (YoY) 51

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Laurel County
Laurel County, KY 67.3 Serious —
Clay County, KY 73.0 Serious +5.6
Knox County, KY 72.8 Serious +5.4
McCreary County, KY 72.2 Serious +4.9
Whitley County, KY 68.2 Serious +0.8
Jackson County, KY 67.9 Serious +0.6
Rockcastle County, KY 65.1 Serious -2.3
Pulaski County, KY 64.9 Elevated -2.5

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Laurel County
Lowndes County, MS 67.3 Serious 0.0
Bartow County, GA 67.4 Serious +0.0
Dorchester County, SC 67.4 Serious +0.0
Glynn County, GA 67.2 Serious -0.2
DeSoto County, MS 67.1 Serious -0.2

Download Data

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

Find Help in Laurel 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 Laurel 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.

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Frequently Asked Questions

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

    Laurel County has a County Distress Index score of 67.3 out of 100, placing it in the Serious zone. It ranks 527th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 23rd in Kentucky out of 120 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Laurel County?

    The primary driver of distress in Laurel County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 97.1 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Laurel County compare to neighboring counties?

    Laurel County (67.3) can be compared to its 7 neighboring counties: Clay County, KY (73.0); Knox County, KY (72.8); McCreary County, KY (72.2).

  • 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). Laurel County's score of 67.3 sits in the Serious zone (71–86).

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

    Laurel 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 Laurel County?

    Laurel County, Kentucky has a population of approximately 63,296 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.