Kennebec County, Maine

County Distress Index: Normal · 48.4 | 127,259 people · 10th most distressed in Maine
American Default Research

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Kennebec County, ME falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 48.4 — 1712th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Housing Cost Burden, where a large share of households spend more than 30% of income on housing. Within Maine, it ranks 10th of 16 counties. Among its 6 neighboring counties, 4 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five domains of financial distress. Kennebec County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 68.1 — above the national median.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 68.1
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 67
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 56
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 73
Homeownership Rate 58
Rent-to-Income Ratio 86
Employment & Wages 50.2
Unemployment Rate 23
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 71
Business Formation Rate 57
Community Vulnerability 46.1
Uninsured Rate 37
Disability Rate 55
Income & Poverty 39.5
Poverty Rate 33
Income vs. State Median 51
Child Poverty Rate 34
Debt & Delinquency 38.1
Debt in Collections 47
Medical Debt 82
Student Loan Delinquency 33
Auto Loan Delinquency 31
Credit Card Delinquency 30
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 5

Scores are percentile-based: 50 = national median, higher = more distressed. The median line is shown on each bar.

Neighbors and Peers

How Kennebec County compares to its 6 neighboring counties and population peers.

Neighboring Counties

County Score Zone vs. Kennebec County
Kennebec County, ME 48.4 Normal —
Somerset County, ME 58.7 Elevated +10.3
Androscoggin County, ME 57.3 Elevated +8.9
Franklin County, ME 52.8 Elevated +4.4
Waldo County, ME 52.3 Elevated +3.9
Lincoln County, ME 37.1 Normal -11.3
Sagadahoc County, ME 36.2 Normal -12.2

Population Peers

County Score Zone vs. Kennebec County
Saline County, KS 48.4 Normal -0.0
Lapeer County, MI 48.4 Normal -0.0
Bannock County, ID 48.4 Normal -0.0
Cecil County, MD 48.4 Normal +0.0
Warren County, NY 48.4 Normal -0.0

Download Data

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

Find Help in Kennebec County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Kennebec County.

KENNEBEC VALLEY COMMUNITY ACTION PROGRAM
Waterville
207-859-1500 Website
Foreclosure PreventionMortgage HelpFinancial CounselingPost-Purchase

See all counselors in Maine →

Find an Attorney

Maine State Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service offers a lawyer referral service for bankruptcy, foreclosure defense, and consumer rights.

Maine State Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service 207-622-7523

Free Legal Aid

Legal aid organizations serving Kennebec County residents at no cost.

Pine Tree Legal Assistance 207-774-8211

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 Maine →

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the distress score for Kennebec County, Maine?

    Kennebec County has a County Distress Index score of 48.4 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 1,712th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 10th in Maine out of 16 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Kennebec County?

    The primary driver of distress in Kennebec County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 68.1 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Kennebec County compare to neighboring counties?

    Kennebec County (48.4) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Somerset County, ME (58.7); Androscoggin County, ME (57.3); Franklin County, ME (52.8).

  • How is the County Distress Index calculated?

    The County Distress Index uses percentile-rank averaging across five domains: Debt & Delinquency, Income & Poverty, Housing Cost Burden, Employment & Wages, and Community Vulnerability. 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.

  • What is the population of Kennebec County?

    Kennebec County, Maine has a population of approximately 127,259 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.