Pulaski County, Kentucky

County Distress Index: Elevated · 64.9 | 66,191 people · 31st most distressed in Kentucky
American Default Research

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Pulaski County, KY registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 64.9 — 650th 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 31st 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. Pulaski County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 93.1 — worse than roughly 93% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 93.1
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 93
Structural Poverty 73.0
Unemployment Rate 49
Poverty Rate 73
Income vs. State Median 55
Child Poverty Rate 71
Disability Rate 88
Transfer Income Dependency 96
Housing Cost Burden 71.1
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 69
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 84
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 49
Homeownership Rate 63
Consumer Credit Distress 60.4
Debt in Collections 70
Medical Debt 68
Auto Loan Delinquency 49
Credit Card Delinquency 57
Uninsured Rate 37
Subprime Credit Population 66
Economic Vitality 38.3
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 32
Rent-to-Income Ratio 43
Business Formation Rate 39
House Price Change (YoY) 52

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Pulaski County
Pulaski County, KY 64.9 Elevated —
McCreary County, KY 72.2 Serious +7.3
Wayne County, KY 70.7 Serious +5.8
Casey County, KY 69.5 Serious +4.6
Laurel County, KY 67.3 Serious +2.5
Rockcastle County, KY 65.1 Serious +0.2
Russell County, KY 60.7 Elevated -4.2
Lincoln County, KY 57.8 Elevated -7.1

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Pulaski County
Smith County, TX 64.9 Elevated +0.0
Lawrence County, OH 64.9 Elevated +0.1
Salem County, NJ 64.8 Elevated -0.1
Bay County, FL 64.7 Elevated -0.2
Gila County, AZ 64.7 Elevated -0.2

Download Data

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

Find Help in Pulaski 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 Pulaski 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 Pulaski County, Kentucky?

    Pulaski County has a County Distress Index score of 64.9 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 650th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 31st in Kentucky out of 120 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Pulaski County?

    The primary driver of distress in Pulaski County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 93.1 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Pulaski County compare to neighboring counties?

    Pulaski County (64.9) can be compared to its 7 neighboring counties: McCreary County, KY (72.2); Wayne County, KY (70.7); Casey County, KY (69.5).

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

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

    Pulaski 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 Pulaski County?

    Pulaski County, Kentucky has a population of approximately 66,191 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.