McLean County, Kentucky

County Distress Index: Normal · 48.1 | 9,054 people · 104th most distressed in Kentucky
American Default Research

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McLean County, KY falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 48.1 — 1706th 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 104th of 120 counties. Among its 6 neighboring counties, 5 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. McLean County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 84.1 — worse than roughly 84% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 84.1
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 84
Economic Vitality 72.2
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 81
Rent-to-Income Ratio 66
Business Formation Rate 91
House Price Change (YoY) 10
Structural Poverty 58.3
Unemployment Rate 45
Poverty Rate 59
Income vs. State Median 38
Child Poverty Rate 48
Disability Rate 80
Transfer Income Dependency 77
Consumer Credit Distress 51.3
Debt in Collections 55
Medical Debt 58
Auto Loan Delinquency 46
Credit Card Delinquency 80
Uninsured Rate 10
Subprime Credit Population 40
Housing Cost Burden 13.1
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 15
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 12
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 10
Homeownership Rate 14

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. McLean County
McLean County, KY 48.1 Normal —
Henderson County, KY 59.4 Elevated +11.3
Hopkins County, KY 59.0 Elevated +10.9
Muhlenberg County, KY 57.4 Elevated +9.3
Ohio County, KY 54.7 Elevated +6.6
Daviess County, KY 50.4 Elevated +2.3
Webster County, KY 44.3 Normal -3.8

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. McLean County
Niobrara County, WY 48.1 Normal +0.0
Elk County, KS 48.0 Normal -0.1
Mahnomen County, MN 48.0 Normal -0.1
Parmer County, TX 48.3 Normal +0.2
Huerfano County, CO 47.9 Normal -0.2

Download Data

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

Find Help in McLean 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 McLean 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 McLean County, Kentucky?

    McLean County has a County Distress Index score of 48.1 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 1,706th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 104th in Kentucky out of 120 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in McLean County?

    The primary driver of distress in McLean County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 84.1 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does McLean County compare to neighboring counties?

    McLean County (48.1) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Henderson County, KY (59.4); Hopkins County, KY (59.0); Muhlenberg County, KY (57.4).

  • 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). McLean County's score of 48.1 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    McLean 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 McLean County?

    McLean County, Kentucky has a population of approximately 9,054 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a tiny county.