Hale County, Alabama

County Distress Index: Serious · 72.1 | 14,888 people · 16th most distressed in Alabama
American Default Research

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Hale County, AL shows significant household financial distress with a score of 72.1 — 308th 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 16th of 67 counties. Among its 5 neighboring counties, 3 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Hale County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 95.0 — worse than roughly 95% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 95.0
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 95
Structural Poverty 84.3
Unemployment Rate 41
Poverty Rate 93
Income vs. State Median 90
Child Poverty Rate 94
Disability Rate 95
Transfer Income Dependency 85
Consumer Credit Distress 78.7
Debt in Collections 91
Medical Debt 36
Auto Loan Delinquency 89
Credit Card Delinquency 88
Uninsured Rate 32
Subprime Credit Population 95
Economic Vitality 68.4
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 74
Rent-to-Income Ratio 95
Business Formation Rate 21
House Price Change (YoY) 51
Housing Cost Burden 44.6
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 53
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 49
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 15
Homeownership Rate 35

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Hale County
Hale County, AL 72.1 Serious —
Bibb County, AL 75.0 Serious +2.9
Greene County, AL 72.9 Serious +0.8
Tuscaloosa County, AL 72.1 Serious -0.1
Marengo County, AL 72.0 Serious -0.2
Perry County, AL 70.7 Serious -1.4

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Hale County
St. Mary Parish, LA 72.1 Serious -0.0
Luna County, NM 72.1 Serious +0.0
Barbour County, AL 72.1 Serious -0.0
Cibola County, NM 72.1 Serious -0.1
Palo Pinto County, TX 72.2 Serious +0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Hale 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

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Legal aid organizations serving Hale County residents at no cost.

Legal Services Alabama 1-866-456-4995
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Frequently Asked Questions

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

    Hale County has a County Distress Index score of 72.1 out of 100, placing it in the Serious zone. It ranks 308th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 16th in Alabama out of 67 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Hale County?

    The primary driver of distress in Hale County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 95.0 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Hale County compare to neighboring counties?

    Hale County (72.1) can be compared to its 5 neighboring counties: Bibb County, AL (75.0); Greene County, AL (72.9); Tuscaloosa County, AL (72.1).

  • 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 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). Hale County's score of 72.1 sits in the Serious zone (71–86).

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

    Hale 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 Hale County?

    Hale County, Alabama has a population of approximately 14,888 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.