20 most stressed, least stressed counties

Here are the 20 most economically stressed counties with populations over 25,000 and their December 2009 Stress scores, according to The Associated Press Economic Stress Index:

1. Imperial County, Calif., 31.57

2. Merced County, Calif., 26.44

3. Lyon County, Nev., 24.93

4. San Benito County, Calif., 24.46

5. Sutter County, Calif., 24.13

6. Yuba County, Calif., 24.11

7. Stanislaus County, Calif., 23.92

8. San Joaquin County, Calif., 23.57

9. Lapeer County, Mich., 23.1

10. Marion County, S.C., 22.93

11. Nye County, Nev., 22.9

12. Chester County, S.C., 22.87

13. Clark County, Nev., 22.78

14. Lake County, Calif., 22.65

15. Lauderdale County, Tenn., 22.48

16. Union County, S.C., 22.26

17. Sanilac County, Mich., 21.71

18. Riverside County, Calif., 21.67

19. Iosco County, Mich., 21.6

20. Marshal County, Tenn., 21.53

A list of the 20 least economically stressed counties with populations over 25,000 and their December 2009 Stress scores, according to The Associated Press Economic Stress Index:

1. Ellis County, Kan., 3.5

2. Ford County, Kan., 3.78

3. Riley County, Kan., 3.85

4. Buffalo County, Neb., 4.08

5. Brookings County, S.D., 4.09

6. Brown County, S.D., 4.13

7. Finney County, S.D.,4.17

8. Ward County, N.D., 4.44

9. Clay County, Minn., 4.48

10. Grand Forks County, N.D., 4.53

11. Burleigh County, N.D., 4.6

12. Madison County, Neb., 4.73

13. Arlington County, Va., 4.73

14. Platte County, Neb., 4.8

15. Lincoln County, S.D. 4.94

16. Sioux County, Iowa, 4.97

17. Albany County, Wyo., 4.97

18. Johnson County, Iowa, 5.01

19. Monongalia County, W.Va., 5.11

20. Lancaster County, Neb., 5.2

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)