In Christian County, Kentucky, rent on a two-bedroom takes about three in ten dollars of the typical household's income
In Christian County, 27.8% of the typical household's income would go to rent on a two-bedroom. That is higher than in 92% of U.S. counties.
More distressed than 95% of U.S. counties.
What drives Christian County's score
In Christian County, jobs weigh most: the score for jobs is 85.8. Unemployment averaged 5.6%, Oct 2025 to Sep 2026, higher than in 88% of U.S. counties. Late payments on loans come next, at 85.0.
The County Distress Index looks at five parts of household money trouble in Christian County: jobs, late payments on loans, income and the safety net, collections and bankruptcy, and housing costs. Each part is scored from 0 to 100, and a higher score means worse off than other counties.
Christian County is worse off than the typical U.S. county on every measure in the score.
A longer bar means more trouble. See how the county score works.
- 85.8 of 100
Jobs
Biggest factorUnemployment through Sep 2026; adults not working, 2020–24 Census survey
- Unemployment rate, average over the latest year5.6% · Oct 2025 to Sep 202688th percentile
- Adults 25 to 54 not working27.4% · 2020 to 202482nd percentile
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- 85.0 of 100
Late payments
Credit records, August 2025; credit scores, second quarter of 2026
- People with a credit card behind8.2% · August 202586th percentile
- People with a car or retail loan behind8.5% · August 202585th percentile
- People with a subprime credit score51.2% · second quarter of 202682nd percentile
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- 84.5 of 100
Collections and bankruptcy
Credit records, August 2025; bankruptcy filings, 2025
- People with unpaid debt sent to a collector34.0% · August 202583rd percentile
- Bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people249.9 · 202585th percentile
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- 77.9 of 100
Housing costs
Renters, 2020–24 Census survey; HUD's fair market rents, fiscal year 2027
- Renters paying half their income or more in rent20.3% · 2020 to 202463rd percentile
- Rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income27.8% · fiscal year 202792nd percentile
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- 71.9 of 100
Income and safety net
Poverty and income, 2024; disability and insurance, 2020–24 Census survey
- People below the poverty line17.3% · 202477th percentile
- Children below the poverty line22.3% · 202473rd percentile
- People with a disability17.3% · 2020 to 202461st percentile
- People without health insurance10.2% · 2020 to 202467th percentile
- Median household income (lower income, longer bar)$56,457 · 202479th percentile
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Sources: Urban Institute, Debt in America; Equifax via the St. Louis Fed; Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, Table F-5A; U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey; U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Fair Market Rents and Census income; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates. County Distress Index by American Default Research, from data through Sep 2026.
Where the money in Christian County comes from
Benefit checks are Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid paid on people's behalf, veterans' benefits, and food and income support, so a high share usually means an older population, low pay, or both. In Christian County, 12.7% of residents are 65 or older (Census Bureau, 2024), against 17.2% nationally that year.
Cents of every dollar of income, 2024
Christian County
Kentucky
United States
- Pay from work
- Investments and rent
- Benefit checks
Benefit checks' share of income in Christian County had its largest rise, from 15.1% in 2004 to 19.6% in 2009.
In Christian County, benefit checks' share of income has grown to about four times its 1969 level, reaching 28.7% in 2024, but pay from work still brings in twice as much as benefit checks
In Christian County, Kentucky, benefit checks' share of income grew to about four times its 1969 level by 2024, reaching 28.7%; pay from work is plotted alongside. Every fifth year and 2024 are shown.
- Benefit checks
- Pay from work
SNAP food aid is one of the benefit checks counted in the income totals above.
The share of households in Christian County getting SNAP food aid was at its highest on the chart in 2015 and has since fallen by about a third
Biggest drop: 2019 to 2020, reaching 14.2%. Households getting SNAP, every year; each bar is a five-year survey estimate ending that year, so neighboring bars share most of their data, Christian County, Kentucky.
How Christian County has changed
Christian County's population rose by about a quarter from 1969 to 2024, reaching 71,006, with most of the change between 1969 and 1974
High on the chart: 73,933 in 2014. Residents, yearly estimate, every fifth year and 2024, Christian County, Kentucky.
The number of jobs located in Christian County had its largest rise, from 28,144 in 2000 to 31,592 in 2005.
The number of jobs located in Christian County rose by about a third from 1990 to 2025, reaching 31,172
High on the chart: 31,743 in 2015. Yearly average of jobs covered by unemployment insurance, every fifth year and 2025, Christian County, Kentucky.
| Measure | Then | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rateBLS LAUS | 1990 7.0% | 2025 5.5% |
| People below the poverty lineCensus SAIPE | 1989 17.6% | 2024 17.3% |
| Median household incomeCensus SAIPE | 1989 $19,137 | 2024 $56,457 |
The table uses 5.5% for 2025; the score uses 5.6% for the latest year (Oct 2025 to Sep 2026), both from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Figures are as each agency published them, not adjusted for prices.
Dated events in Christian County's history
1797
The county was formed in 1797. Wikipedia
1997
A flash flood in March 1997 did $40 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2006
A tornado in April 2006 did $35 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2010
The county's largest recorded population was the 2010 Census count of 73,955. The 2020 Census counted 72,748, 98% of the peak. Census Bureau
2018
A tornado in February 2018 did $6 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2023
A flash flood in August 2023 killed one person. NOAA Storm Events Database
2026
Ascend Elements filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Wikipedia
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Since 1975
25 federal disaster and emergency declarations have covered Christian County, 14 of them for flooding. FEMA
Christian County beside its neighbors
Christian County scores higher than all seven counties that border it, in Kentucky and Tennessee. For the share of income from benefit checks, Christian County ranks 6th of the eight; Muhlenberg County is highest, at 37.6%.
| County | Score | Poverty | Benefit checks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Christian County, KY | 95 | 17.3% | 28.7% |
| Hopkins County, KY | 85 | 19.3% | 33.1% |
| Muhlenberg County, KY | 84 | 19.1% | 37.6% |
| Trigg County, KY | 78 | 13.9% | 34.0% |
| Todd County, KY | 73 | 16.6% | 27.2% |
| Caldwell County, KY | 69 | 16.0% | 36.8% |
| Montgomery County, TN | 62 | 10.2% | 22.4% |
| Stewart County, TN | 41 | 17.1% | 33.5% |
Distress score: American Default Research, County Distress Index, data through Sep 2026; each county scored against all 3,144. Poverty rate: Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates, 2024. Benefit checks: Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024. Neighbors share a border, from Census county maps.
Is Christian County the poorest county in Kentucky?
No, Christian County's poverty rate was 17.3% in 2024, 55th highest of 120 in Kentucky (U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates). By that measure the poorest county in the state is McCreary County, at 36.4%. On our distress index, which counts more than poverty, Christian County ranks 12th of 120 in the state.
If you're behind on your mortgage in Christian County
Housing counselors approved by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development work at nonprofit agencies. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau describes free foreclosure-avoidance counseling, including help with mortgage-company conversations and available options Source CFPB.
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Kentucky Legal Aid, Incorporated
HUD-approved housing counselor
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Kentucky Legal Aid
Legal aid
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HUD-approved housing counselors
Our help directory lists 1,010 agencies approved for foreclosure counseling, by state.
The score, its 14 measures and their sources, in one file. Free to use with credit to American Default Research.
Download the CSV for Christian County · Every U.S. county (CSV)
Sources and method
- American Default Research · County Distress Index Data through Sep 2026, built from Urban Institute, Debt in America; Equifax via the St. Louis Fed; U.S. Courts, Table F-5A; Census Bureau, American Community Survey; HUD Fair Market Rents and Census income; Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates. The County Distress Index is American Default Research's own calculation; the Urban Institute does not produce or endorse it. Our methodology
- Urban Institute · Debt in America Breno Braga, Signe-Mary McKernan, Samantha Atherton, and Kassandra Martinchek, "Debt in America," last updated November 20, 2025, https://datacatalog.urban.org/dataset/debt-america-2025. Licensed under ODC-By 1.0.
- Rent on a two-bedroom and household income The rent share compares HUD fair market rent for fiscal year 2027 with Census Bureau median household income for 2024. The page calls this the typical household's income.
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Economic Accounts (CAINC4) · income shares Where the money in Christian County comes from, 2024.
- History The agencies named in each row and the linked records above.