Lauderdale County, Alabama

County Distress Index: Elevated · 56.6 | 96,814 people · 52nd most distressed in Alabama
American Default Research

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Lauderdale County, AL registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 56.6 — 1168th 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 52nd of 67 counties. Among its 8 neighboring counties, 5 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Lauderdale County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 90.2 — worse than roughly 90% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 90.2
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 90
Consumer Credit Distress 63.4
Debt in Collections 58
Medical Debt 68
Auto Loan Delinquency 69
Credit Card Delinquency 68
Uninsured Rate 63
Subprime Credit Population 57
Economic Vitality 52.1
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 56
Rent-to-Income Ratio 26
Business Formation Rate 81
House Price Change (YoY) 56
Housing Cost Burden 43.8
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 36
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 46
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 12
Homeownership Rate 78
Structural Poverty 38.7
Unemployment Rate 8
Poverty Rate 50
Income vs. State Median 16
Child Poverty Rate 44
Disability Rate 53
Transfer Income Dependency 58

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Lauderdale County
Lauderdale County, AL 56.6 Elevated —
Colbert County, AL 63.2 Elevated +6.6
Hardin County, TN 62.1 Elevated +5.5
Wayne County, TN 58.9 Elevated +2.3
Tishomingo County, MS 58.1 Elevated +1.5
Lawrence County, TN 56.9 Elevated +0.3
Lawrence County, AL 54.9 Elevated -1.7
Giles County, TN 53.4 Elevated -3.2
Limestone County, AL 44.2 Normal -12.4

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Lauderdale County
Madison County, KY 56.6 Elevated 0.0
Lincoln County, OR 56.5 Elevated -0.0
Maury County, TN 56.6 Elevated +0.1
Canadian County, OK 56.7 Elevated +0.1
Harrisonburg city, VA 56.8 Elevated +0.2

Download Data

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

Find Help in Lauderdale County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Lauderdale County.

COMMUNITY ACTION AGENCY OF NORTHWEST ALABAMA, INC.
Florence
256-766-4330 Website
Foreclosure PreventionFinancial CounselingFair HousingHomeless/Displacement

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 Lauderdale 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 Lauderdale County, Alabama?

    Lauderdale County has a County Distress Index score of 56.6 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 1,168th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 52nd in Alabama out of 67 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Lauderdale County?

    The primary driver of distress in Lauderdale County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 90.2 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Lauderdale County compare to neighboring counties?

    Lauderdale County (56.6) can be compared to its 8 neighboring counties: Colbert County, AL (63.2); Hardin County, TN (62.1); Wayne County, TN (58.9).

  • 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). Lauderdale County's score of 56.6 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Lauderdale 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 Lauderdale County?

    Lauderdale County, Alabama has a population of approximately 96,814 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.