Nelson County, Kentucky

County Distress Index: Normal · 47.2 | 47,730 people · 106th most distressed in Kentucky
American Default Research

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Nelson County, KY falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 47.2 — 1765th 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 106th of 120 counties. Among its 7 neighboring counties, 5 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Nelson County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 91.2 — worse than roughly 91% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 91.2
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 91
Housing Cost Burden 49.1
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 48
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 55
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 56
Homeownership Rate 34
Consumer Credit Distress 47.5
Debt in Collections 49
Medical Debt 68
Auto Loan Delinquency 37
Credit Card Delinquency 51
Uninsured Rate 19
Subprime Credit Population 49
Structural Poverty 34.2
Unemployment Rate 30
Poverty Rate 45
Income vs. State Median 18
Child Poverty Rate 41
Disability Rate 43
Transfer Income Dependency 35
Economic Vitality 25.0
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 17
Rent-to-Income Ratio 23
Business Formation Rate 44
House Price Change (YoY) 37

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Nelson County
Nelson County, KY 47.2 Normal —
Hardin County, KY 58.0 Elevated +10.8
Washington County, KY 56.6 Elevated +9.4
Anderson County, KY 56.5 Elevated +9.3
Larue County, KY 55.0 Elevated +7.8
Marion County, KY 53.0 Elevated +5.8
Bullitt County, KY 46.2 Normal -1.0
Spencer County, KY 38.5 Normal -8.7

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Nelson County
Young County, TX 47.2 Normal 0.0
Braxton County, WV 47.2 Normal +0.0
Lawrence County, MO 47.1 Normal -0.0
Adams County, WI 47.3 Normal +0.1
Finney County, KS 47.1 Normal -0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Nelson 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 Nelson 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 Nelson County, Kentucky?

    Nelson County has a County Distress Index score of 47.2 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 1,765th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 106th in Kentucky out of 120 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Nelson County?

    The primary driver of distress in Nelson County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 91.2 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Nelson County compare to neighboring counties?

    Nelson County (47.2) can be compared to its 7 neighboring counties: Hardin County, KY (58.0); Washington County, KY (56.6); Anderson County, KY (56.5).

  • 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). Nelson County's score of 47.2 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Nelson 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 Nelson County?

    Nelson County, Kentucky has a population of approximately 47,730 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.