Owen County, Kentucky

County Distress Index: Elevated · 56.9 | 11,313 people · 72nd most distressed in Kentucky
American Default Research

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

Owen County, KY registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 56.9 — 1150th 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 72nd of 120 counties. Among its 6 neighboring counties, 5 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Owen County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 89.1 — worse than roughly 89% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 89.1
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 89
Consumer Credit Distress 63.1
Debt in Collections 64
Medical Debt 63
Auto Loan Delinquency 35
Credit Card Delinquency 77
Uninsured Rate 47
Subprime Credit Population 81
Structural Poverty 50.8
Unemployment Rate 34
Poverty Rate 64
Income vs. State Median 20
Child Poverty Rate 56
Disability Rate 50
Transfer Income Dependency 78
Economic Vitality 43.1
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 38
Rent-to-Income Ratio 23
Business Formation Rate 86
House Price Change (YoY) 47
Housing Cost Burden 42.6
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 28
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 59
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 90
Homeownership Rate 5

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Owen County
Owen County, KY 56.9 Elevated —
Henry County, KY 64.0 Elevated +7.1
Gallatin County, KY 63.6 Elevated +6.7
Carroll County, KY 60.7 Elevated +3.8
Grant County, KY 59.0 Elevated +2.1
Franklin County, KY 57.5 Elevated +0.5
Scott County, KY 42.1 Normal -14.8

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Owen County
Obion County, TN 56.9 Elevated +0.0
Lawrence County, TN 56.9 Elevated -0.0
Garrard County, KY 56.9 Elevated -0.0
Union County, TN 57.0 Elevated +0.1
Shoshone County, ID 56.8 Elevated -0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Owen 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 Owen 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 Owen County, Kentucky?

    Owen County has a County Distress Index score of 56.9 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 1,150th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 72nd in Kentucky out of 120 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Owen County?

    The primary driver of distress in Owen County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 89.1 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Owen County compare to neighboring counties?

    Owen County (56.9) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Henry County, KY (64.0); Gallatin County, KY (63.6); Carroll County, KY (60.7).

  • 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). Owen County's score of 56.9 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Owen 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 Owen County?

    Owen County, Kentucky has a population of approximately 11,313 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.