Jackson County, Alabama

County Distress Index: Elevated · 55.1 | 53,467 people · 58th most distressed in Alabama
American Default Research

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

Jackson County, AL registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 55.1 — 1262nd 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 58th of 67 counties. Its score is in the middle of its 6 neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Jackson County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 80.5 — worse than roughly 81% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 80.5
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 80
Consumer Credit Distress 62.3
Debt in Collections 65
Medical Debt 79
Auto Loan Delinquency 32
Credit Card Delinquency 65
Uninsured Rate 68
Subprime Credit Population 70
Structural Poverty 59.6
Unemployment Rate 10
Poverty Rate 68
Income vs. State Median 55
Child Poverty Rate 57
Disability Rate 89
Transfer Income Dependency 68
Housing Cost Burden 40.4
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 45
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 38
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 24
Homeownership Rate 47
Economic Vitality 26.8
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 5
Rent-to-Income Ratio 20
Business Formation Rate 94
House Price Change (YoY) 26

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Jackson County
Jackson County, AL 55.1 Elevated —
Marion County, TN 63.7 Elevated +8.6
DeKalb County, AL 57.7 Elevated +2.6
Marshall County, AL 57.6 Elevated +2.5
Dade County, GA 53.8 Elevated -1.4
Madison County, AL 52.3 Elevated -2.8
Franklin County, TN 49.8 Normal -5.3

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Jackson County
Sevier County, TN 55.0 Elevated -0.1
Pickaway County, OH 55.2 Elevated +0.1
Washington County, OK 55.2 Elevated +0.1
Androscoggin County, ME 55.0 Elevated -0.1
Parker County, TX 55.0 Elevated -0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Jackson 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 Jackson 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 Jackson County, Alabama?

    Jackson County has a County Distress Index score of 55.1 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 1,262nd nationally out of 3,144 counties and 58th in Alabama out of 67 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Jackson County?

    The primary driver of distress in Jackson County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 80.5 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Jackson County compare to neighboring counties?

    Jackson County (55.1) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Marion County, TN (63.7); DeKalb County, AL (57.7); Marshall County, AL (57.6).

  • 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). Jackson County's score of 55.1 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Jackson 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 Jackson County?

    Jackson County, Alabama has a population of approximately 53,467 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.