Bibb County, Alabama

County Distress Index: Serious · 75.0 | 21,868 people · 9th most distressed in Alabama
American Default Research

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Bibb County, AL shows significant household financial distress with a score of 75.0 — 185th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Legal Distress, where bankruptcy filing rates are well above the national average. Within Alabama, it ranks 9th of 67 counties. It scores higher than all 6 of its neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Bibb County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 96.4 — worse than roughly 96% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 96.4
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 96
Economic Vitality 81.5
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 74
Rent-to-Income Ratio 89
Business Formation Rate 84
House Price Change (YoY) 91
Consumer Credit Distress 79.7
Debt in Collections 92
Medical Debt 76
Auto Loan Delinquency 86
Credit Card Delinquency 66
Uninsured Rate 52
Subprime Credit Population 86
Housing Cost Burden 66.0
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 78
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 77
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 35
Homeownership Rate 34
Structural Poverty 57.6
Unemployment Rate 3
Poverty Rate 84
Income vs. State Median 34
Child Poverty Rate 67
Disability Rate 81
Transfer Income Dependency 73

Scores are percentile-based: 50 = national median, higher = more distressed.

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Bibb County
Bibb County, AL 75.0 Serious —
Jefferson County, AL 72.2 Serious -2.9
Hale County, AL 72.1 Serious -2.9
Tuscaloosa County, AL 72.1 Serious -3.0
Perry County, AL 70.7 Serious -4.3
Chilton County, AL 61.3 Elevated -13.7
Shelby County, AL 46.6 Normal -28.4

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Bibb County
Washington Parish, LA 75.0 Serious +0.0
Sequoyah County, OK 75.0 Serious -0.0
Cocke County, TN 75.1 Serious +0.0
Bristol city, VA 74.9 Serious -0.1
Hamilton County, FL 74.9 Serious -0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Bibb County

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

Alabama State Bar Lawyer Referral Service 1-800-392-5660

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Legal aid organizations serving Bibb County residents at no cost.

Legal Services Alabama 1-866-456-4995
Alabama State Bar Lawyer Referral Service 1-800-392-5660

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the distress score for Bibb County, Alabama?

    Bibb County has a County Distress Index score of 75.0 out of 100, placing it in the Serious zone. It ranks 185th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 9th in Alabama out of 67 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Bibb County?

    The primary driver of distress in Bibb County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 96.4 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Bibb County compare to neighboring counties?

    Bibb County (75.0) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Jefferson County, AL (72.2); Hale County, AL (72.1); Tuscaloosa County, AL (72.1).

  • How is the County Distress Index calculated?

    The County Distress Index uses PCA-weighted percentile scoring across five statistically derived factors: Consumer Credit Distress (47.5%), Housing Cost Burden (22.3%), Structural Poverty (13.6%), Economic Vitality (9.2%), and Legal Distress (7.4%). 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.

  • How often is the CDI updated?

    Annually, aligned to Census American Community Survey and Urban Institute Debt in America release windows — the slowest-moving source inputs. Between annual refreshes, faster-cadence indicators (BLS unemployment, QCEW wages) may drive light mid-year updates if a specific component moves meaningfully. Current data compiled April 14, 2026; next full refresh early 2027.

  • What does the Serious zone mean?

    The CDI divides counties into five zones: Healthy (below 46), Normal (46–55), Elevated (55–71), Serious (71–86), and Crisis (86 and above). Bibb County's score of 75.0 sits in the Serious zone (71–86).

  • What data sources power Bibb County's CDI score?

    Bibb County's CDI score draws on Urban Institute Debt in America (Equifax credit-bureau panel), U.S. Census Bureau (American Community Survey 5-year, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates), Bureau of Labor Statistics (LAUS, QCEW), U.S. Courts Administrative Office (F-5A bankruptcy filings), and HUD Fair Market Rents. Every number on this page traces to one of these public sources.

  • What is the population of Bibb County?

    Bibb County, Alabama has a population of approximately 21,868 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.