Rockcastle County, Kentucky

County Distress Index: Serious · 65.1 | 16,190 people · 29th most distressed in Kentucky
American Default Research

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Rockcastle County, KY shows significant household financial distress with a score of 65.1 — 639th 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 29th of 120 counties. Among its 6 neighboring counties, 4 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Rockcastle County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 92.8 — worse than roughly 93% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 92.8
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 93
Structural Poverty 82.8
Unemployment Rate 55
Poverty Rate 91
Income vs. State Median 76
Child Poverty Rate 82
Disability Rate 90
Transfer Income Dependency 95
Consumer Credit Distress 71.5
Debt in Collections 80
Medical Debt 90
Auto Loan Delinquency 71
Credit Card Delinquency 74
Uninsured Rate 16
Subprime Credit Population 70
Economic Vitality 50.1
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 50
Rent-to-Income Ratio 50
Business Formation Rate 74
House Price Change (YoY) 5
Housing Cost Burden 37.5
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 18
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 61
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 20
Homeownership Rate 39

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Rockcastle County
Rockcastle County, KY 65.1 Serious —
Jackson County, KY 67.9 Serious +2.8
Laurel County, KY 67.3 Serious +2.3
Pulaski County, KY 64.9 Elevated -0.2
Lincoln County, KY 57.8 Elevated -7.3
Garrard County, KY 56.9 Elevated -8.2
Madison County, KY 56.6 Elevated -8.5

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Rockcastle County
Upshur County, TX 65.0 Serious -0.0
Washington County, FL 65.2 Serious +0.1
Fredericksburg city, VA 65.2 Serious +0.1
Radford city, VA 65.2 Serious +0.1
Haralson County, GA 65.0 Elevated -0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Rockcastle 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 Rockcastle 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 Rockcastle County, Kentucky?

    Rockcastle County has a County Distress Index score of 65.1 out of 100, placing it in the Serious zone. It ranks 639th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 29th in Kentucky out of 120 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Rockcastle County?

    The primary driver of distress in Rockcastle County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 92.8 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Rockcastle County compare to neighboring counties?

    Rockcastle County (65.1) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Jackson County, KY (67.9); Laurel County, KY (67.3); Pulaski County, KY (64.9).

  • 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 Serious 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). Rockcastle County's score of 65.1 sits in the Serious zone (71–86).

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

    Rockcastle 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 Rockcastle County?

    Rockcastle County, Kentucky has a population of approximately 16,190 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.