Choctaw County, Alabama

County Distress Index: Serious · 66.2 | 12,252 people · 30th most distressed in Alabama
American Default Research

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Choctaw County, AL shows significant household financial distress with a score of 66.2 — 593rd 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 30th of 67 counties. Among its 7 neighboring counties, 5 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Choctaw County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 84.4 — worse than roughly 84% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 84.4
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 84
Consumer Credit Distress 82.4
Debt in Collections 95
Medical Debt 43
Auto Loan Delinquency 95
Credit Card Delinquency 85
Uninsured Rate 51
Subprime Credit Population 94
Structural Poverty 81.3
Unemployment Rate 30
Poverty Rate 95
Income vs. State Median 73
Child Poverty Rate 95
Disability Rate 93
Transfer Income Dependency 92
Housing Cost Burden 34.8
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 23
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 64
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 12
Homeownership Rate 10
Economic Vitality 21.7
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 5
Rent-to-Income Ratio 36
Business Formation Rate 21
House Price Change (YoY) 67

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Choctaw County
Choctaw County, AL 66.2 Serious —
Sumter County, AL 76.7 Serious +10.5
Lauderdale County, MS 76.5 Serious +10.3
Wayne County, MS 75.9 Serious +9.7
Marengo County, AL 72.0 Serious +5.8
Clarke County, MS 70.1 Serious +3.9
Clarke County, AL 63.3 Elevated -2.9
Washington County, AL 56.5 Elevated -9.6

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Choctaw County
Glacier County, MT 66.2 Serious -0.0
Tattnall County, GA 66.2 Serious +0.1
Randolph County, AL 66.1 Serious -0.1
Newberry County, SC 66.3 Serious +0.1
Alcorn County, MS 66.3 Serious +0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Choctaw County

Find an Attorney

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 Choctaw 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 Choctaw County, Alabama?

    Choctaw County has a County Distress Index score of 66.2 out of 100, placing it in the Serious zone. It ranks 593rd nationally out of 3,144 counties and 30th in Alabama out of 67 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Choctaw County?

    The primary driver of distress in Choctaw County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 84.4 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Choctaw County compare to neighboring counties?

    Choctaw County (66.2) can be compared to its 7 neighboring counties: Sumter County, AL (76.7); Lauderdale County, MS (76.5); Wayne County, MS (75.9).

  • 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). Choctaw County's score of 66.2 sits in the Serious zone (71–86).

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

    Choctaw 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 Choctaw County?

    Choctaw County, Alabama has a population of approximately 12,252 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.