Of the Top 20 stressed counties in the nation, 12 are located in California. No California counties were listed on the Top 20 list of the least stressed counties. (click here to see the interactive map)
The index gives a score from 1 to 100 based on bankruptcy rates, unemployment and foreclosure . A higher score indicates more stress. A county is considered stress if it receives a score exceeding 11.
The complete list of counties (March 2010 score) with populations of at least 25,000:
1. Imperial County, Calif., 31.27
2. Merced County, Calif., 28.29
3. Lyon County, Nev., 27.96
4. San Benito County, Calif., 27.26
5. Sutter County, Calif., 26.41
6. Yuba County, Calif., 25.8
7. Stanislaus County, Calif., 25.46
8. Iosco County, Mich., 24.89
9. San Joaquin County, Calif., 24.78
10. Nye County, Nevada., 24.19
11. Lapeer County, Mich., 24.03
12. Cheboygan County, Mich., 23.89
13. Luna County, N.M., 23.82
14. Lake County, Calif., 23.78
15. Kern County, Calif., 23.62
16. Tulare County, Calif., 23.17
17. Madera County, Calif., 23.04
18. Fresno County, Calif., 22.72
19. Clark County, Nevada, 22.65
20. Boone County, Ill., 22.59
A list of the 20 least economically stressed counties with populations of at least 25,000 and their March 2010 Stress scores, according to The Associated Press Economic Stress Index:
1. Ford County, Kan., 4.07
2. Ellis County, Kan., 4.17
3. Brown County, S.D., 4.6
4. Brookings County, S.D., 4.66
5. Finney County, Kan., 4.89
6. Riley County, Kan., 5.08
7. Buffalo County, Neb., 5.19
8. Ward County, N.D., 5.22
9. Grand Forks County, N.D., 5.30
10. Lafourche Parish, La., 5.31
11. Burleigh County, N.D., 5.36
12. Platte County, Neb., 5.49
13. Johnson County, Iowa, 5.5
14. Arlington County, Va., 5.54
15. Albany County, Wyo., 5.59
16. Terrebonne Parish, Louisiana, 5.67
17. Custer County, Okla., 5.7
18. Lincoln County, S.D., 5.72
19. Madison County, Neb., 5.74
20. Bryan County, Okla., 5.75