Mason County, Kentucky

County Distress Index: Elevated · 59.9 | 16,841 people · 51st most distressed in Kentucky
American Default Research

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Mason County, KY registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 59.9 — 955th 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 51st of 120 counties. Its score is in the middle of its 6 neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Mason County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 81.1 — worse than roughly 81% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 81.1
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 81
Structural Poverty 67.0
Unemployment Rate 76
Poverty Rate 73
Income vs. State Median 44
Child Poverty Rate 65
Disability Rate 82
Transfer Income Dependency 71
Consumer Credit Distress 60.2
Debt in Collections 71
Medical Debt 62
Auto Loan Delinquency 78
Credit Card Delinquency 29
Uninsured Rate 30
Subprime Credit Population 69
Housing Cost Burden 58.7
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 44
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 68
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 53
Homeownership Rate 76
Economic Vitality 34.2
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 19
Rent-to-Income Ratio 32
Business Formation Rate 62
House Price Change (YoY) 64

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Mason County
Mason County, KY 59.9 Elevated —
Adams County, OH 67.9 Serious +7.9
Brown County, OH 61.0 Elevated +1.1
Robertson County, KY 60.1 Elevated +0.2
Fleming County, KY 59.2 Elevated -0.7
Bracken County, KY 58.8 Elevated -1.1
Lewis County, KY 55.7 Elevated -4.2

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Mason County
LaSalle Parish, LA 59.9 Elevated +0.0
Weakley County, TN 60.0 Elevated +0.0
Clare County, MI 60.0 Elevated +0.1
Wythe County, VA 59.8 Elevated -0.1
Union County, MS 60.1 Elevated +0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Mason 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 Mason 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 Mason County, Kentucky?

    Mason County has a County Distress Index score of 59.9 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 955th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 51st in Kentucky out of 120 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Mason County?

    The primary driver of distress in Mason County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 81.1 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Mason County compare to neighboring counties?

    Mason County (59.9) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Adams County, OH (67.9); Brown County, OH (61.0); Robertson County, KY (60.1).

  • 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 Elevated 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). Mason County's score of 59.9 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Mason 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 Mason County?

    Mason County, Kentucky has a population of approximately 16,841 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.