Lawrence County, Alabama

County Distress Index: Elevated · 54.9 | 33,502 people · 59th most distressed in Alabama
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Lawrence County, AL registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 54.9 — 1280th 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 59th of 67 counties. Among its 7 neighboring counties, 6 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Lawrence County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 87.0 — worse than roughly 87% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 87.0
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 87
Consumer Credit Distress 74.7
Debt in Collections 77
Medical Debt 62
Auto Loan Delinquency 86
Credit Card Delinquency 78
Uninsured Rate 60
Subprime Credit Population 75
Structural Poverty 49.1
Unemployment Rate 1
Poverty Rate 56
Income vs. State Median 21
Child Poverty Rate 57
Disability Rate 87
Transfer Income Dependency 69
Economic Vitality 42.4
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 25
Rent-to-Income Ratio 27
Business Formation Rate 87
House Price Change (YoY) 93
Housing Cost Burden 10.5
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 11
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 10
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 8
Homeownership Rate 13

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Lawrence County
Lawrence County, AL 54.9 Elevated —
Colbert County, AL 63.2 Elevated +8.4
Franklin County, AL 59.1 Elevated +4.2
Morgan County, AL 58.3 Elevated +3.4
Lauderdale County, AL 56.6 Elevated +1.7
Cullman County, AL 56.0 Elevated +1.1
Winston County, AL 55.8 Elevated +0.9
Limestone County, AL 44.2 Normal -10.7

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Lawrence County
Grant County, NM 54.9 Elevated 0.0
Ogemaw County, MI 54.9 Elevated +0.0
Lee County, TX 54.9 Elevated -0.0
Hardin County, OH 54.9 Elevated +0.0
Ohio County, WV 54.9 Elevated +0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Lawrence County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Lawrence County.

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

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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 Lawrence County residents at no cost.

Legal Services Alabama 1-866-456-4995
Alabama State Bar Lawyer Referral Service 1-800-392-5660

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Frequently Asked Questions

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

    Lawrence County has a County Distress Index score of 54.9 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 1,280th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 59th in Alabama out of 67 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Lawrence County?

    The primary driver of distress in Lawrence County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 87.0 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Lawrence County compare to neighboring counties?

    Lawrence County (54.9) can be compared to its 7 neighboring counties: Colbert County, AL (63.2); Franklin County, AL (59.1); Morgan County, AL (58.3).

  • 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). Lawrence County's score of 54.9 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Lawrence 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 Lawrence County?

    Lawrence County, Alabama has a population of approximately 33,502 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.