Washington County, Kentucky

County Distress Index: Elevated · 56.6 | 12,267 people · 77th most distressed in Kentucky
American Default Research

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Washington County, KY registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 56.6 — 1170th 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 77th of 120 counties. Among its 5 neighboring counties, 4 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Washington County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 69.7 — above the national median.

Legal Distress Primary driver 69.7
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 70
Consumer Credit Distress 61.6
Debt in Collections 69
Medical Debt 82
Auto Loan Delinquency 66
Credit Card Delinquency 24
Uninsured Rate 61
Subprime Credit Population 67
Housing Cost Burden 57.2
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 73
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 56
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 48
Homeownership Rate 28
Structural Poverty 51.8
Unemployment Rate 23
Poverty Rate 47
Income vs. State Median 35
Child Poverty Rate 43
Disability Rate 89
Transfer Income Dependency 69
Economic Vitality 25.4
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 18
Rent-to-Income Ratio 27
Business Formation Rate 43
House Price Change (YoY) 24

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Washington County
Washington County, KY 56.6 Elevated —
Boyle County, KY 62.7 Elevated +6.2
Anderson County, KY 56.5 Elevated -0.1
Mercer County, KY 56.1 Elevated -0.5
Marion County, KY 53.0 Elevated -3.6
Nelson County, KY 47.2 Normal -9.4

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Washington County
Cherokee County, AL 56.6 Elevated +0.0
Washington County, AL 56.5 Elevated -0.0
White County, TN 56.6 Elevated +0.0
Grayson County, KY 56.5 Elevated -0.1
Calloway County, KY 56.5 Elevated -0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Washington 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 Washington 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 Washington County, Kentucky?

    Washington County has a County Distress Index score of 56.6 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 1,170th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 77th in Kentucky out of 120 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Washington County?

    The primary driver of distress in Washington County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 69.7 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Washington County compare to neighboring counties?

    Washington County (56.6) can be compared to its 5 neighboring counties: Boyle County, KY (62.7); Anderson County, KY (56.5); Mercer County, KY (56.1).

  • 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). Washington County's score of 56.6 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Washington 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 Washington County?

    Washington County, Kentucky has a population of approximately 12,267 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.