Metcalfe County, Kentucky

County Distress Index: Elevated · 56.6 | 10,482 people · 74th most distressed in Kentucky
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Metcalfe County, KY registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 56.6 — 1163rd nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Structural Poverty, where poverty rates are high, transfer income dependency is elevated, and household incomes lag well behind state and national medians. Within Kentucky, it ranks 74th 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. Metcalfe County's primary driver is Structural Poverty at 86.1 — worse than roughly 86% of U.S. counties.

Structural Poverty Primary driver 86.1
Unemployment Rate 34
Poverty Rate 94
Income vs. State Median 95
Child Poverty Rate 95
Disability Rate 87
Transfer Income Dependency 95
Legal Distress 64.0
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 64
Consumer Credit Distress 63.9
Debt in Collections 60
Medical Debt 70
Auto Loan Delinquency 78
Credit Card Delinquency 50
Uninsured Rate 46
Subprime Credit Population 70
Economic Vitality 51.0
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 35
Rent-to-Income Ratio 82
Business Formation Rate 57
House Price Change (YoY) 24
Housing Cost Burden 23.0
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 21
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 10
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 44
Homeownership Rate 45

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Metcalfe County
Metcalfe County, KY 56.6 Elevated —
Barren County, KY 67.1 Serious +10.4
Adair County, KY 64.7 Elevated +8.0
Hart County, KY 58.8 Elevated +2.1
Cumberland County, KY 56.6 Elevated -0.0
Monroe County, KY 54.5 Elevated -2.2
Green County, KY 51.6 Elevated -5.0

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Metcalfe County
Plaquemines Parish, LA 56.7 Elevated +0.0
White County, TN 56.6 Elevated -0.0
Cherokee County, AL 56.6 Elevated -0.1
Washington County, KY 56.6 Elevated -0.1
Washington County, AL 56.5 Elevated -0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Metcalfe 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 Metcalfe 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 Metcalfe County, Kentucky?

    Metcalfe County has a County Distress Index score of 56.6 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 1,163rd nationally out of 3,144 counties and 74th in Kentucky out of 120 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Metcalfe County?

    The primary driver of distress in Metcalfe County is Structural Poverty, where the county scores 86.1 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Unemployment Rate, Poverty Rate, Income vs. State Median.

  • How does Metcalfe County compare to neighboring counties?

    Metcalfe County (56.6) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Barren County, KY (67.1); Adair County, KY (64.7); Hart County, KY (58.8).

  • 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). Metcalfe County's score of 56.6 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Metcalfe 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 Metcalfe County?

    Metcalfe County, Kentucky has a population of approximately 10,482 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.