Pendleton County, Kentucky

County Distress Index: Elevated · 53.7 | 14,810 people · 94th most distressed in Kentucky
American Default Research

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Pendleton County, KY registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 53.7 — 1360th 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 94th of 120 counties. Its score is in the middle of its 6 neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Pendleton County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 78.6 — worse than roughly 79% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 78.6
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 79
Economic Vitality 66.4
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 79
Rent-to-Income Ratio 66
Business Formation Rate 64
House Price Change (YoY) 8
Consumer Credit Distress 56.0
Debt in Collections 70
Medical Debt 47
Auto Loan Delinquency 55
Credit Card Delinquency 45
Uninsured Rate 22
Subprime Credit Population 69
Structural Poverty 46.2
Unemployment Rate 45
Poverty Rate 47
Income vs. State Median 12
Child Poverty Rate 48
Disability Rate 84
Transfer Income Dependency 53
Housing Cost Burden 39.9
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 17
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 64
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 15
Homeownership Rate 52

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Pendleton County
Pendleton County, KY 53.7 Elevated —
Harrison County, KY 60.5 Elevated +6.8
Grant County, KY 59.0 Elevated +5.3
Bracken County, KY 58.8 Elevated +5.1
Kenton County, KY 48.0 Normal -5.6
Clermont County, OH 47.2 Normal -6.5
Campbell County, KY 45.6 Normal -8.1

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Pendleton County
Prowers County, CO 53.7 Elevated +0.0
Upshur County, WV 53.7 Elevated +0.0
Vinton County, OH 53.7 Elevated +0.1
Newton County, IN 53.8 Elevated +0.1
Dade County, GA 53.8 Elevated +0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Pendleton 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 Pendleton 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 Pendleton County, Kentucky?

    Pendleton County has a County Distress Index score of 53.7 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 1,360th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 94th in Kentucky out of 120 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Pendleton County?

    The primary driver of distress in Pendleton County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 78.6 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Pendleton County compare to neighboring counties?

    Pendleton County (53.7) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Harrison County, KY (60.5); Grant County, KY (59.0); Bracken County, KY (58.8).

  • 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). Pendleton County's score of 53.7 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Pendleton 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 Pendleton County?

    Pendleton County, Kentucky has a population of approximately 14,810 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.