Muhlenberg County, Kentucky

County Distress Index: Elevated · 57.4 | 30,568 people · 71st most distressed in Kentucky
American Default Research

Behind on your mortgage or facing eviction? Take a 2-minute assessment to see your options.

Muhlenberg County, KY registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 57.4 — 1133rd 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 71st of 120 counties. Among its 7 neighboring counties, 4 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Muhlenberg County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 91.8 — worse than roughly 92% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 91.8
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 92
Structural Poverty 80.0
Unemployment Rate 67
Poverty Rate 87
Income vs. State Median 65
Child Poverty Rate 81
Disability Rate 93
Transfer Income Dependency 89
Consumer Credit Distress 60.9
Debt in Collections 60
Medical Debt 44
Auto Loan Delinquency 71
Credit Card Delinquency 78
Uninsured Rate 16
Subprime Credit Population 67
Housing Cost Burden 36.2
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 53
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 34
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 24
Homeownership Rate 11
Economic Vitality 29.3
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 6
Rent-to-Income Ratio 38
Business Formation Rate 89
House Price Change (YoY) 7

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Muhlenberg County
Muhlenberg County, KY 57.4 Elevated —
Christian County, KY 77.9 Serious +20.6
Butler County, KY 60.7 Elevated +3.4
Hopkins County, KY 59.0 Elevated +1.7
Logan County, KY 55.4 Elevated -2.0
Ohio County, KY 54.7 Elevated -2.7
Todd County, KY 52.2 Elevated -5.2
McLean County, KY 48.1 Normal -9.3

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Muhlenberg County
Bollinger County, MO 57.4 Elevated +0.0
Clark County, KY 57.4 Elevated +0.0
Lunenburg County, VA 57.4 Elevated +0.0
Audrain County, MO 57.4 Elevated +0.0
Southampton County, VA 57.4 Elevated +0.0

Download Data

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

Find Help in Muhlenberg 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 Muhlenberg 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.

Need legal help? Find a foreclosure defense attorney in Kentucky →

Continue Reading

Frequently Asked Questions

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

    Muhlenberg County has a County Distress Index score of 57.4 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 1,133rd nationally out of 3,144 counties and 71st in Kentucky out of 120 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Muhlenberg County?

    The primary driver of distress in Muhlenberg County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 91.8 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Muhlenberg County compare to neighboring counties?

    Muhlenberg County (57.4) can be compared to its 7 neighboring counties: Christian County, KY (77.9); Butler County, KY (60.7); Hopkins County, KY (59.0).

  • 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 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). Muhlenberg County's score of 57.4 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Muhlenberg 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 Muhlenberg County?

    Muhlenberg County, Kentucky has a population of approximately 30,568 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.