Taylor County, Kentucky

County Distress Index: Elevated · 59.5 | 26,443 people · 54th most distressed in Kentucky
American Default Research

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Taylor County, KY registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 59.5 — 983rd 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 54th of 120 counties. Among its 5 neighboring counties, 3 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Taylor 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 75.6
Unemployment Rate 52
Poverty Rate 84
Income vs. State Median 62
Child Poverty Rate 73
Disability Rate 88
Transfer Income Dependency 90
Consumer Credit Distress 64.1
Debt in Collections 66
Medical Debt 61
Auto Loan Delinquency 80
Credit Card Delinquency 68
Uninsured Rate 6
Subprime Credit Population 69
Economic Vitality 42.0
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 34
Rent-to-Income Ratio 36
Business Formation Rate 49
House Price Change (YoY) 89
Housing Cost Burden 36.2
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 28
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 33
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 12
Homeownership Rate 78

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Taylor County
Taylor County, KY 59.5 Elevated —
Casey County, KY 69.5 Serious +9.9
Adair County, KY 64.7 Elevated +5.1
Larue County, KY 55.0 Elevated -4.6
Marion County, KY 53.0 Elevated -6.5
Green County, KY 51.6 Elevated -7.9

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Taylor County
Lamb County, TX 59.5 Elevated 0.0
Wise County, VA 59.5 Elevated -0.0
McNairy County, TN 59.5 Elevated -0.0
Fulton County, AR 59.6 Elevated +0.0
Caldwell County, KY 59.5 Elevated -0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Taylor County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Taylor County.

CAMPBELLSVILLE HOUSING AND REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
Campbellsville
270-465-3576
Foreclosure PreventionFinancial CounselingFinancial CounselingFair Housing

See all counselors in Kentucky →

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 Taylor 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.

Need legal help? Find a foreclosure defense attorney in Kentucky →

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the distress score for Taylor County, Kentucky?

    Taylor County has a County Distress Index score of 59.5 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 983rd nationally out of 3,144 counties and 54th in Kentucky out of 120 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Taylor County?

    The primary driver of distress in Taylor 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 Taylor County compare to neighboring counties?

    Taylor County (59.5) can be compared to its 5 neighboring counties: Casey County, KY (69.5); Adair County, KY (64.7); Larue County, KY (55.0).

  • 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). Taylor County's score of 59.5 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Taylor 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 Taylor County?

    Taylor County, Kentucky has a population of approximately 26,443 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.