Whitley County, Kentucky

County Distress Index: Serious · 68.2 | 36,825 people · 18th most distressed in Kentucky
American Default Research

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Whitley County, KY shows significant household financial distress with a score of 68.2 — 480th 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 18th of 120 counties. Among its 6 neighboring counties, 4 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Whitley County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 97.3 — worse than roughly 97% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 97.3
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 97
Structural Poverty 88.3
Unemployment Rate 49
Poverty Rate 97
Income vs. State Median 92
Child Poverty Rate 94
Disability Rate 86
Transfer Income Dependency 99
Consumer Credit Distress 71.9
Debt in Collections 78
Medical Debt 62
Auto Loan Delinquency 55
Credit Card Delinquency 81
Uninsured Rate 46
Subprime Credit Population 88
Economic Vitality 50.5
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 24
Rent-to-Income Ratio 71
Business Formation Rate 83
House Price Change (YoY) 57
Housing Cost Burden 45.7
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 37
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 41
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 40
Homeownership Rate 81

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Whitley County
Whitley County, KY 68.2 Serious —
Bell County, KY 79.9 Serious +11.8
Knox County, KY 72.8 Serious +4.6
McCreary County, KY 72.2 Serious +4.0
Campbell County, TN 68.5 Serious +0.3
Laurel County, KY 67.3 Serious -0.8
Claiborne County, TN 64.5 Elevated -3.7

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Whitley County
Dyer County, TN 68.2 Serious -0.0
Madison County, FL 68.2 Serious -0.0
Delaware County, OK 68.3 Serious +0.1
Columbia County, AR 68.1 Serious -0.1
Bacon County, GA 68.1 Serious -0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Whitley 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 Whitley 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 Whitley County, Kentucky?

    Whitley County has a County Distress Index score of 68.2 out of 100, placing it in the Serious zone. It ranks 480th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 18th in Kentucky out of 120 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Whitley County?

    The primary driver of distress in Whitley County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 97.3 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Whitley County compare to neighboring counties?

    Whitley County (68.2) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Bell County, KY (79.9); Knox County, KY (72.8); McCreary County, KY (72.2).

  • 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). Whitley County's score of 68.2 sits in the Serious zone (71–86).

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

    Whitley 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 Whitley County?

    Whitley County, Kentucky has a population of approximately 36,825 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.