Union County, Kentucky

County Distress Index: Elevated · 53.8 | 13,106 people · 93rd most distressed in Kentucky
American Default Research

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Union County, KY registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 53.8 — 1352nd 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 93rd 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. Union County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 80.0 — worse than roughly 80% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 80.0
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 80
Consumer Credit Distress 62.7
Debt in Collections 62
Medical Debt 58
Auto Loan Delinquency 80
Credit Card Delinquency 70
Uninsured Rate 22
Subprime Credit Population 62
Structural Poverty 60.0
Unemployment Rate 34
Poverty Rate 58
Income vs. State Median 29
Child Poverty Rate 60
Disability Rate 95
Transfer Income Dependency 83
Housing Cost Burden 36.7
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 19
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 49
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 18
Homeownership Rate 63
Economic Vitality 18.7
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 5
Rent-to-Income Ratio 19
Business Formation Rate 59
House Price Change (YoY) 8

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Union County
Union County, KY 53.8 Elevated —
Henderson County, KY 59.4 Elevated +5.6
Crittenden County, KY 54.2 Elevated +0.4
Webster County, KY 44.3 Normal -9.5
Hardin County, IL 40.6 Normal -13.2
Gallatin County, IL 35.7 Normal -18.1
Posey County, IN 30.3 Healthy -23.5

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Union County
Polk County, MO 53.8 Elevated +0.0
Dade County, GA 53.8 Elevated -0.0
Newton County, IN 53.8 Elevated -0.0
Vinton County, OH 53.7 Elevated -0.0
Knox County, IN 53.8 Elevated +0.0

Download Data

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

Find Help in Union 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 Union 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 Union County, Kentucky?

    Union County has a County Distress Index score of 53.8 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 1,352nd nationally out of 3,144 counties and 93rd in Kentucky out of 120 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Union County?

    The primary driver of distress in Union County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 80.0 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Union County compare to neighboring counties?

    Union County (53.8) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Henderson County, KY (59.4); Crittenden County, KY (54.2); Webster County, KY (44.3).

  • 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). Union County's score of 53.8 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Union 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 Union County?

    Union County, Kentucky has a population of approximately 13,106 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.