Chambers County, Alabama

County Distress Index: Serious · 68.5 | 34,079 people · 26th most distressed in Alabama
American Default Research

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Chambers County, AL shows significant household financial distress with a score of 68.5 — 462nd 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 26th of 67 counties. Among its 5 neighboring counties, 4 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Chambers County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 98.8 — worse than roughly 99% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 98.8
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 99
Consumer Credit Distress 84.2
Debt in Collections 88
Medical Debt 57
Auto Loan Delinquency 81
Credit Card Delinquency 97
Uninsured Rate 78
Subprime Credit Population 93
Structural Poverty 67.0
Unemployment Rate 1
Poverty Rate 73
Income vs. State Median 61
Child Poverty Rate 82
Disability Rate 85
Transfer Income Dependency 85
Economic Vitality 41.3
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 31
Rent-to-Income Ratio 73
Business Formation Rate 6
House Price Change (YoY) 67
Housing Cost Burden 37.2
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 30
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 31
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 40
Homeownership Rate 66

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Chambers County
Chambers County, AL 68.5 Serious —
Troup County, GA 82.3 Crisis +13.8
Randolph County, AL 66.1 Serious -2.4
Lee County, AL 63.4 Elevated -5.1
Tallapoosa County, AL 52.7 Elevated -15.8
Harris County, GA 43.9 Normal -24.6

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Chambers County
Dawson County, TX 68.5 Serious -0.0
Person County, NC 68.5 Serious -0.0
Campbell County, TN 68.5 Serious +0.0
Okeechobee County, FL 68.3 Serious -0.2
Pike County, OH 68.7 Serious +0.2

Download Data

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

Find Help in Chambers 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

Free Legal Aid

Legal aid organizations serving Chambers 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 Chambers County, Alabama?

    Chambers County has a County Distress Index score of 68.5 out of 100, placing it in the Serious zone. It ranks 462nd nationally out of 3,144 counties and 26th in Alabama out of 67 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Chambers County?

    The primary driver of distress in Chambers County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 98.8 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Chambers County compare to neighboring counties?

    Chambers County (68.5) can be compared to its 5 neighboring counties: Troup County, GA (82.3); Randolph County, AL (66.1); Lee County, AL (63.4).

  • 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). Chambers County's score of 68.5 sits in the Serious zone (71–86).

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

    Chambers 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 Chambers County?

    Chambers County, Alabama has a population of approximately 34,079 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.