Nicholas County, Kentucky

County Distress Index: Elevated · 64.3 | 7,686 people · 36th most distressed in Kentucky
American Default Research

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Nicholas County, KY registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 64.3 — 687th 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 36th of 120 counties. Among its 6 neighboring counties, 5 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Nicholas County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 86.5 — worse than roughly 87% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 86.5
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 87
Structural Poverty 72.6
Unemployment Rate 30
Poverty Rate 74
Income vs. State Median 62
Child Poverty Rate 81
Disability Rate 88
Transfer Income Dependency 91
Consumer Credit Distress 63.5
Debt in Collections 89
Medical Debt 63
Auto Loan Delinquency 5
Credit Card Delinquency 90
Uninsured Rate 20
Subprime Credit Population 82
Economic Vitality 61.1
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 73
Rent-to-Income Ratio 35
Business Formation Rate 53
House Price Change (YoY) 95
Housing Cost Burden 55.0
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 26
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 79
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 57
Homeownership Rate 64

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Nicholas County
Nicholas County, KY 64.3 Elevated —
Bourbon County, KY 64.8 Elevated +0.5
Harrison County, KY 60.5 Elevated -3.9
Robertson County, KY 60.1 Elevated -4.2
Fleming County, KY 59.2 Elevated -5.1
Montgomery County, KY 55.8 Elevated -8.5
Bath County, KY 54.3 Elevated -10.0

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Nicholas County
Kiowa County, OK 64.3 Elevated -0.1
Lake County, OR 64.4 Elevated +0.1
Jeff Davis County, TX 64.1 Elevated -0.2
Baylor County, TX 64.1 Elevated -0.2
Costilla County, CO 64.7 Elevated +0.4

Download Data

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

Find Help in Nicholas 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 Nicholas 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 Nicholas County, Kentucky?

    Nicholas County has a County Distress Index score of 64.3 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 687th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 36th in Kentucky out of 120 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Nicholas County?

    The primary driver of distress in Nicholas County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 86.5 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Nicholas County compare to neighboring counties?

    Nicholas County (64.3) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Bourbon County, KY (64.8); Harrison County, KY (60.5); Robertson County, KY (60.1).

  • 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). Nicholas County's score of 64.3 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Nicholas 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 Nicholas County?

    Nicholas County, Kentucky has a population of approximately 7,686 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a tiny county.