Meade County, Kentucky

County Distress Index: Normal · 50.0 | 30,131 people · 101st most distressed in Kentucky
American Default Research

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Meade County, KY falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 50.0 — 1579th 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 101st of 120 counties. Among its 5 neighboring counties, 3 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Meade County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 89.7 — worse than roughly 90% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 89.7
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 90
Consumer Credit Distress 56.7
Debt in Collections 56
Medical Debt 68
Auto Loan Delinquency 54
Credit Card Delinquency 56
Uninsured Rate 4
Subprime Credit Population 72
Structural Poverty 37.7
Unemployment Rate 45
Poverty Rate 35
Income vs. State Median 14
Child Poverty Rate 29
Disability Rate 83
Transfer Income Dependency 33
Economic Vitality 36.2
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 20
Rent-to-Income Ratio 24
Business Formation Rate 74
House Price Change (YoY) 80
Housing Cost Burden 35.8
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 34
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 30
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 32
Homeownership Rate 56

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Meade County
Meade County, KY 50.0 Normal —
Hardin County, KY 58.0 Elevated +8.0
Crawford County, IN 52.3 Elevated +2.3
Breckinridge County, KY 52.0 Elevated +2.0
Perry County, IN 43.4 Normal -6.6
Harrison County, IN 38.3 Normal -11.7

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Meade County
Lincoln County, NM 50.0 Normal -0.0
Graham County, AZ 50.0 Normal -0.0
Crawford County, MI 50.0 Elevated +0.0
Mariposa County, CA 49.9 Normal -0.1
Union County, OR 50.1 Elevated +0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Meade 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 Meade 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

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Frequently Asked Questions

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

    Meade County has a County Distress Index score of 50.0 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 1,579th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 101st in Kentucky out of 120 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Meade County?

    The primary driver of distress in Meade County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 89.7 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Meade County compare to neighboring counties?

    Meade County (50.0) can be compared to its 5 neighboring counties: Hardin County, KY (58.0); Crawford County, IN (52.3); Breckinridge County, KY (52.0).

  • 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). Meade County's score of 50.0 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Meade 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 Meade County?

    Meade County, Kentucky has a population of approximately 30,131 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.