Blount County, Alabama

County Distress Index: Elevated · 58.2 | 59,816 people · 47th most distressed in Alabama
American Default Research

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Blount County, AL registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 58.2 — 1062nd 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 47th of 67 counties. Its score is in the middle of its 6 neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Blount County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 84.0 — worse than roughly 84% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 84.0
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 84
Economic Vitality 82.2
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 88
Rent-to-Income Ratio 70
Business Formation Rate 82
House Price Change (YoY) 90
Consumer Credit Distress 62.0
Debt in Collections 65
Medical Debt 60
Auto Loan Delinquency 44
Credit Card Delinquency 72
Uninsured Rate 66
Subprime Credit Population 66
Housing Cost Burden 45.2
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 52
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 51
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 40
Homeownership Rate 21
Structural Poverty 35.7
Unemployment Rate 1
Poverty Rate 44
Income vs. State Median 14
Child Poverty Rate 43
Disability Rate 74
Transfer Income Dependency 41

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Blount County
Blount County, AL 58.2 Elevated —
Etowah County, AL 73.5 Serious +15.3
Jefferson County, AL 72.2 Serious +14.0
Walker County, AL 62.6 Elevated +4.4
Marshall County, AL 57.6 Elevated -0.6
Cullman County, AL 56.0 Elevated -2.2
St. Clair County, AL 52.2 Elevated -6.0

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Blount County
Washington County, MD 58.2 Elevated +0.0
Josephine County, OR 58.2 Elevated +0.0
Richland County, OH 58.3 Elevated +0.0
Morgan County, AL 58.3 Elevated +0.1
Vermilion County, IL 58.1 Elevated -0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Blount 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 Blount 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 Blount County, Alabama?

    Blount County has a County Distress Index score of 58.2 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 1,062nd nationally out of 3,144 counties and 47th in Alabama out of 67 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Blount County?

    The primary driver of distress in Blount County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 84.0 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Blount County compare to neighboring counties?

    Blount County (58.2) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Etowah County, AL (73.5); Jefferson County, AL (72.2); Walker County, AL (62.6).

  • 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 Elevated 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). Blount County's score of 58.2 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Blount 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 Blount County?

    Blount County, Alabama has a population of approximately 59,816 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.