McCracken County, Kentucky

County Distress Index: Elevated · 57.7 | 67,428 people · 66th most distressed in Kentucky
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McCracken County, KY registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 57.7 — 1101st 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 66th of 120 counties. Among its 7 neighboring counties, 6 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. McCracken County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 70.2 — above the national median.

Legal Distress Primary driver 70.2
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 70
Consumer Credit Distress 62.2
Debt in Collections 61
Medical Debt 70
Auto Loan Delinquency 81
Credit Card Delinquency 57
Uninsured Rate 25
Subprime Credit Population 61
Housing Cost Burden 61.0
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 66
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 58
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 28
Homeownership Rate 79
Structural Poverty 46.3
Unemployment Rate 45
Poverty Rate 66
Income vs. State Median 29
Child Poverty Rate 66
Disability Rate 51
Transfer Income Dependency 35
Economic Vitality 33.9
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 21
Rent-to-Income Ratio 48
Business Formation Rate 36
House Price Change (YoY) 51

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. McCracken County
McCracken County, KY 57.7 Elevated —
Graves County, KY 58.1 Elevated +0.4
Pulaski County, IL 56.8 Elevated -1.0
Livingston County, KY 55.8 Elevated -1.9
Carlisle County, KY 52.3 Elevated -5.4
Marshall County, KY 49.0 Normal -8.7
Massac County, IL 48.2 Normal -9.5
Ballard County, KY 40.1 Normal -17.6

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. McCracken County
Anderson County, SC 57.8 Elevated +0.0
DeKalb County, AL 57.7 Elevated -0.0
Cochise County, AZ 57.6 Elevated -0.1
Marshall County, AL 57.6 Elevated -0.1
Sutter County, CA 57.6 Elevated -0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in McCracken County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near McCracken County.

KENTUCKY LEGAL AID, INCORPORATED
Paducah
270-782-5740 Website
Foreclosure PreventionPre-PurchaseRental Help

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 McCracken 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 McCracken County, Kentucky?

    McCracken County has a County Distress Index score of 57.7 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 1,101st nationally out of 3,144 counties and 66th in Kentucky out of 120 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in McCracken County?

    The primary driver of distress in McCracken County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 70.2 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does McCracken County compare to neighboring counties?

    McCracken County (57.7) can be compared to its 7 neighboring counties: Graves County, KY (58.1); Pulaski County, IL (56.8); Livingston County, KY (55.8).

  • 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). McCracken County's score of 57.7 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    McCracken 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 McCracken County?

    McCracken County, Kentucky has a population of approximately 67,428 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.