Colbert County, Alabama

County Distress Index: Elevated · 63.2 | 58,361 people · 37th most distressed in Alabama
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Colbert County, AL registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 63.2 — 760th 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 37th of 67 counties. It scores higher than all 4 of its neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Colbert County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 96.1 — worse than roughly 96% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 96.1
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 96
Consumer Credit Distress 71.1
Debt in Collections 73
Medical Debt 79
Auto Loan Delinquency 78
Credit Card Delinquency 65
Uninsured Rate 44
Subprime Credit Population 73
Housing Cost Burden 57.0
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 56
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 62
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 28
Homeownership Rate 67
Structural Poverty 50.5
Unemployment Rate 10
Poverty Rate 64
Income vs. State Median 28
Child Poverty Rate 63
Disability Rate 68
Transfer Income Dependency 66
Economic Vitality 30.5
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 11
Rent-to-Income Ratio 47
Business Formation Rate 61
House Price Change (YoY) 16

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Colbert County
Colbert County, AL 63.2 Elevated —
Franklin County, AL 59.1 Elevated -4.2
Tishomingo County, MS 58.1 Elevated -5.1
Lauderdale County, AL 56.6 Elevated -6.6
Lawrence County, AL 54.9 Elevated -8.4

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Colbert County
Coconino County, AZ 63.2 Elevated -0.0
Bedford County, TN 63.2 Elevated -0.1
Fayette County, PA 63.3 Elevated +0.1
Greenwood County, SC 63.4 Elevated +0.1
Paulding County, GA 63.4 Elevated +0.2

Download Data

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

Find Help in Colbert County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Colbert County.

COMMUNITY ACTION AGENCY OF NORTHWEST ALABAMA - COLBERT COUNTY
SHEFFIELD
256-383-3832 Website
Foreclosure PreventionFinancial CounselingPost-PurchasePre-Lease/Pre-Purchase

See all counselors in Alabama →

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 Colbert County residents at no cost.

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

American Default Research does not endorse, rate, or rank any provider. Verify attorney credentials with your state bar.

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Frequently Asked Questions

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

    Colbert County has a County Distress Index score of 63.2 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 760th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 37th in Alabama out of 67 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Colbert County?

    The primary driver of distress in Colbert County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 96.1 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Colbert County compare to neighboring counties?

    Colbert County (63.2) can be compared to its 4 neighboring counties: Franklin County, AL (59.1); Tishomingo County, MS (58.1); Lauderdale County, AL (56.6).

  • 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). Colbert County's score of 63.2 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Colbert 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 Colbert County?

    Colbert County, Alabama has a population of approximately 58,361 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.