20 Most Stressed, 20 Least Stressed Counties

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

1. Imperial County, Calif., 32.39

2. Lyon County, Nev., 27.56

3. Nye County, Nev., 25.91

4. Merced County, Calif., 25.37

5. Yuma County, Ariz., 25.34

6. Sutter County, Calif., 25.24

7. Yuba County, Calif., 24.93

8. San Benito County, Calif., 24.42

9. Clark County, Nev., 24.03

10. San Joaquin County, Calif., 23.91

11. Lake County, Calif., 23.72

12. Stanislaus County, Calif., 23.41

13. Tulare County, Calif., 21.60

14. Siskiyou County, Calif., 21.35

15. Madera County, Calif., 21.23

16. Kern County, Calif., 21.22

17. Fresno County, Calif., 21.13

18. Riverside County, Calif., 21.03

19. Calaveras County, Calif., 20.91

20. Flagler County, Fla., 20.7

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

1. Ellis County, Kan., 3.48

2. Buffalo County, Neb., 3.74

3. Ford County, Kan., 3.95

4. Ward County, N.D., 4.01

5. Sioux County, Iowa, 4.12

6. Grand Forks County, N.D., 4.34

7. Arlington County, Va., 4.38

8. Madison County, Neb., 4.42

9. Riley County, Kan., 4.49

10. Brown County, S.D., 4.51

11. Brookings County, 4.51

12. Albany County, Wyo., 4.53

13. Burleigh County, N.D., 4.55

14. Lancaster County, Neb., 4.73

15. Cass County, N.D., 4.74

16. Finney County, Kan., 4.79

17. Platte County, Neb., 4.8

18. Chittenden County, Vt., 4.86

19. Adams County, Neb., 4.98

20. Lincoln County, Neb., 5.01

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Source: AP Economic Stress Index