Franklin County, Alabama

County Distress Index: Elevated · 59.1 | 31,802 people · 44th most distressed in Alabama
American Default Research

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Franklin County, AL registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 59.1 — 1015th 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 44th of 67 counties. Among its 6 neighboring counties, 4 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Franklin County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 83.9 — worse than roughly 84% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 83.9
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 84
Consumer Credit Distress 74.5
Debt in Collections 75
Medical Debt 91
Auto Loan Delinquency 68
Credit Card Delinquency 67
Uninsured Rate 76
Subprime Credit Population 73
Structural Poverty 65.3
Unemployment Rate 3
Poverty Rate 92
Income vs. State Median 64
Child Poverty Rate 95
Disability Rate 64
Transfer Income Dependency 66
Economic Vitality 33.5
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 6
Rent-to-Income Ratio 26
Business Formation Rate 94
House Price Change (YoY) 81
Housing Cost Burden 24.7
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 17
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 22
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 4
Homeownership Rate 63

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Franklin County
Franklin County, AL 59.1 Elevated —
Marion County, AL 63.6 Elevated +4.6
Colbert County, AL 63.2 Elevated +4.2
Tishomingo County, MS 58.1 Elevated -1.0
Winston County, AL 55.8 Elevated -3.3
Lawrence County, AL 54.9 Elevated -4.2
Itawamba County, MS 50.5 Elevated -8.6

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Franklin County
Roosevelt County, MT 59.1 Elevated 0.0
Franklin County, KS 59.1 Elevated +0.0
Hopkins County, KY 59.0 Elevated -0.0
Washington County, IN 59.0 Elevated -0.0
Johnston County, OK 59.1 Elevated +0.0

Download Data

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

Find Help in Franklin County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Franklin County.

COMMUNITY ACTION AGENCY OF NORTHWEST ALABAMA - FRANKLIN COUNTY
Russellville
256-332-7534 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 Franklin 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 →

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Frequently Asked Questions

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

    Franklin County has a County Distress Index score of 59.1 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 1,015th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 44th in Alabama out of 67 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Franklin County?

    The primary driver of distress in Franklin County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 83.9 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Franklin County compare to neighboring counties?

    Franklin County (59.1) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Marion County, AL (63.6); Colbert County, AL (63.2); Tishomingo County, MS (58.1).

  • 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). Franklin County's score of 59.1 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Franklin 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 Franklin County?

    Franklin County, Alabama has a population of approximately 31,802 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.