Owsley County, Kentucky

County Distress Index: Elevated · 64.9 | 4,001 people · 30th most distressed in Kentucky
American Default Research

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Owsley County, KY registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 64.9 — 643rd 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 30th of 120 counties. Among its 5 neighboring counties, 3 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Owsley County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 91.0 — worse than roughly 91% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 91.0
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 91
Structural Poverty 90.0
Unemployment Rate 55
Poverty Rate 95
Income vs. State Median 95
Child Poverty Rate 95
Disability Rate 95
Transfer Income Dependency 95
Economic Vitality 72.6
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 56
Rent-to-Income Ratio 95
Business Formation Rate 95
House Price Change (YoY) 47
Consumer Credit Distress 66.1
Debt in Collections 78
Medical Debt 72
Auto Loan Delinquency 94
Credit Card Delinquency 5
Uninsured Rate 32
Subprime Credit Population 88
Housing Cost Burden 35.3
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 9
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 46
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 26
Homeownership Rate 77

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Owsley County
Owsley County, KY 64.9 Elevated —
Clay County, KY 73.0 Serious +8.0
Lee County, KY 72.7 Serious +7.8
Jackson County, KY 67.9 Serious +3.0
Perry County, KY 64.3 Elevated -0.6
Breathitt County, KY 62.7 Elevated -2.2

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Owsley County
Cotton County, OK 64.7 Elevated -0.2
Costilla County, CO 64.7 Elevated -0.2
Latimer County, OK 65.3 Serious +0.4
Floyd County, TX 65.4 Serious +0.5
Lake County, OR 64.4 Elevated -0.5

Download Data

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

Find Help in Owsley 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 Owsley 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 Owsley County, Kentucky?

    Owsley County has a County Distress Index score of 64.9 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 643rd nationally out of 3,144 counties and 30th in Kentucky out of 120 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Owsley County?

    The primary driver of distress in Owsley County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 91.0 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Owsley County compare to neighboring counties?

    Owsley County (64.9) can be compared to its 5 neighboring counties: Clay County, KY (73.0); Lee County, KY (72.7); Jackson County, KY (67.9).

  • 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). Owsley County's score of 64.9 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Owsley 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 Owsley County?

    Owsley County, Kentucky has a population of approximately 4,001 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a tiny county.