Cullman County, Alabama

County Distress Index: Elevated · 56.0 | 92,016 people · 55th most distressed in Alabama
American Default Research

Behind on your mortgage or facing eviction? Take a 2-minute assessment to see your options.

Cullman County, AL registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 56.0 — 1203rd 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 55th of 67 counties. Among its 6 neighboring counties, 4 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Cullman County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 91.3 — worse than roughly 91% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 91.3
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 91
Consumer Credit Distress 69.9
Debt in Collections 64
Medical Debt 76
Auto Loan Delinquency 75
Credit Card Delinquency 71
Uninsured Rate 69
Subprime Credit Population 68
Structural Poverty 43.2
Unemployment Rate 1
Poverty Rate 65
Income vs. State Median 21
Child Poverty Rate 66
Disability Rate 68
Transfer Income Dependency 44
Housing Cost Burden 33.6
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 29
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 34
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 39
Homeownership Rate 39
Economic Vitality 28.6
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 10
Rent-to-Income Ratio 13
Business Formation Rate 72
House Price Change (YoY) 88

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Cullman County
Cullman County, AL 56.0 Elevated —
Walker County, AL 62.6 Elevated +6.7
Morgan County, AL 58.3 Elevated +2.3
Blount County, AL 58.2 Elevated +2.2
Marshall County, AL 57.6 Elevated +1.6
Winston County, AL 55.8 Elevated -0.2
Lawrence County, AL 54.9 Elevated -1.1

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Cullman County
Peoria County, IL 56.0 Elevated 0.0
Pope County, AR 56.0 Elevated +0.0
Linn County, OR 55.9 Elevated -0.0
Lonoke County, AR 56.1 Elevated +0.1
Greene County, TN 55.8 Elevated -0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Cullman County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Cullman County.

COMMUNITY ACTION PARTNERSHIP OF NORTH ALABAMA - CULLMAN BRANCH
CULLMAN
256-260-3108 Website
Rental Help

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 Cullman 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.

Need legal help? Find a foreclosure defense attorney in Alabama →

Continue Reading

Frequently Asked Questions

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

    Cullman County has a County Distress Index score of 56.0 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 1,203rd nationally out of 3,144 counties and 55th in Alabama out of 67 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Cullman County?

    The primary driver of distress in Cullman County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 91.3 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Cullman County compare to neighboring counties?

    Cullman County (56.0) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Walker County, AL (62.6); Morgan County, AL (58.3); Blount County, AL (58.2).

  • 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). Cullman County's score of 56.0 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Cullman 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 Cullman County?

    Cullman County, Alabama has a population of approximately 92,016 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.