AP Economic Stress Index

20 Most Stressed, Least Stressed U.S. Counties

Here are the 20 most economically stressed counties with populations of at least 25,000 and their January 2010 Stress scores, according to The Associated Press Economic Stress Index:

1. Imperial County, Calif., 31.34

2. Merced County, Calif., 28.09

3. Lyon County, Nev., 27.91

4. San Benito County, Calif., 26.58

5. Yuba County, Calif., 25.47

6. Stanislaus County, Calif., 25.07

7. Sutter County, Calif., 24.92

8. San Joaquin County, Calif., 24.68

9. Boone County, Ill., 24.64

10. Marion County, S.C., 24.60

11. Lapeer County, Mich. 24.44

12. Iosco County, Mich., 24.13

13. Nye County, Nev., 24

14. Cheboygan County, Mich., 23.81

15. Lake County, Calif., 23.72 [see: California health insurance quotes]

16. Taney County, Mo., 23.12

17. Clark County, Nev., 22.97

18. Marshall County, Tenn., 22.89

19. Chester County, S.C., 22.69

20. Union County, S.C., 22.64

A list of the 20 least economically stressed counties with populations of at least 25,000 and their January 2010 Stress scores, according to The Associated Press Economic Stress Index:

1. Ford County, Kan., 4.17

2. Ellis County, Kan., 4.31

3. Brookings County, S.D., 4.59

4. Brown County, S.D., 4.84

5. Finney County, Kan., 4.86

6. Burleigh County, N.D.,5.13

7. Grand Forks County, N.D., 5.23

8. Buffalo County, Neb., 5.27

9. Ward County, N.D.,5.32

10. Arlington County, Va., 5.34

11. Sioux County, Iowa, 5.49

12. Riley County, Kan., 5.53

13. Johnson County, Iowa, 5.55

14. Lincoln County, S.D., 5.64

15. Platte County, Neb., 5.69

16. Cass County, N.D., 5.71

17. Madison County, Neb., 5.92

18. Story County, Iowa, 6.04

19. Albany County, Wyo., 6.08

20. Lincoln County, Neb., 6.09