Russell County, Kentucky

County Distress Index: Elevated · 60.7 | 18,279 people · 48th most distressed in Kentucky
American Default Research

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Russell County, KY registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 60.7 — 910th 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 48th 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. Russell County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 79.3 — worse than roughly 79% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 79.3
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 79
Structural Poverty 76.6
Unemployment Rate 34
Poverty Rate 91
Income vs. State Median 84
Child Poverty Rate 80
Disability Rate 94
Transfer Income Dependency 70
Consumer Credit Distress 56.8
Debt in Collections 61
Medical Debt 78
Auto Loan Delinquency 69
Credit Card Delinquency 43
Uninsured Rate 35
Subprime Credit Population 48
Housing Cost Burden 55.6
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 66
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 60
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 8
Homeownership Rate 55
Economic Vitality 54.2
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 40
Rent-to-Income Ratio 58
Business Formation Rate 76
House Price Change (YoY) 78

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Russell County
Russell County, KY 60.7 Elevated —
Wayne County, KY 70.7 Serious +10.0
Casey County, KY 69.5 Serious +8.8
Clinton County, KY 67.8 Serious +7.1
Pulaski County, KY 64.9 Elevated +4.2
Adair County, KY 64.7 Elevated +4.0
Cumberland County, KY 56.6 Elevated -4.1

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Russell County
Grimes County, TX 60.7 Elevated +0.0
Pecos County, TX 60.6 Elevated -0.0
Cooke County, TX 60.6 Elevated -0.0
McDonough County, IL 60.7 Elevated +0.1
Miami County, IN 60.7 Elevated +0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Russell 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 Russell 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 Russell County, Kentucky?

    Russell County has a County Distress Index score of 60.7 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 910th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 48th in Kentucky out of 120 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Russell County?

    The primary driver of distress in Russell County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 79.3 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Russell County compare to neighboring counties?

    Russell County (60.7) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Wayne County, KY (70.7); Casey County, KY (69.5); Clinton County, KY (67.8).

  • 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). Russell County's score of 60.7 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Russell 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 Russell County?

    Russell County, Kentucky has a population of approximately 18,279 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.