Mercer County, Kentucky

County Distress Index: Elevated · 56.1 | 23,097 people · 81st most distressed in Kentucky
American Default Research

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Mercer County, KY registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 56.1 — 1198th 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 81st of 120 counties. Among its 6 neighboring counties, 4 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Mercer County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 85.4 — worse than roughly 85% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 85.4
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 85
Consumer Credit Distress 64.5
Debt in Collections 51
Medical Debt 67
Auto Loan Delinquency 89
Credit Card Delinquency 79
Uninsured Rate 16
Subprime Credit Population 63
Housing Cost Burden 53.5
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 53
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 51
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 93
Homeownership Rate 35
Structural Poverty 42.5
Unemployment Rate 49
Poverty Rate 48
Income vs. State Median 16
Child Poverty Rate 49
Disability Rate 35
Transfer Income Dependency 62
Economic Vitality 15.4
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 1
Rent-to-Income Ratio 4
Business Formation Rate 34
House Price Change (YoY) 89

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Mercer County
Mercer County, KY 56.1 Elevated —
Boyle County, KY 62.7 Elevated +6.7
Garrard County, KY 56.9 Elevated +0.8
Washington County, KY 56.6 Elevated +0.5
Anderson County, KY 56.5 Elevated +0.4
Jessamine County, KY 47.0 Normal -9.0
Woodford County, KY 34.6 Healthy -21.4

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Mercer County
Lincoln County, AR 56.1 Elevated +0.0
Polk County, AR 56.1 Elevated +0.0
Callahan County, TX 56.0 Elevated -0.0
Calhoun County, TX 56.0 Elevated -0.0
Beauregard Parish, LA 56.2 Elevated +0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Mercer 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 Mercer 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 Mercer County, Kentucky?

    Mercer County has a County Distress Index score of 56.1 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 1,198th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 81st in Kentucky out of 120 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Mercer County?

    The primary driver of distress in Mercer County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 85.4 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Mercer County compare to neighboring counties?

    Mercer County (56.1) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Boyle County, KY (62.7); Garrard County, KY (56.9); Washington County, KY (56.6).

  • 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). Mercer County's score of 56.1 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Mercer 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 Mercer County?

    Mercer County, Kentucky has a population of approximately 23,097 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.