Madison County, Alabama

County Distress Index: Elevated · 52.3 | 412,600 people · 64th most distressed in Alabama
American Default Research

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Madison County, AL registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 52.3 — 1432nd 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 64th of 67 counties. Among its 6 neighboring counties, 4 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Madison County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 85.1 — worse than roughly 85% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 85.1
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 85
Housing Cost Burden 65.5
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 70
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 69
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 24
Homeownership Rate 75
Consumer Credit Distress 57.7
Debt in Collections 54
Medical Debt 67
Auto Loan Delinquency 69
Credit Card Delinquency 48
Uninsured Rate 46
Subprime Credit Population 58
Economic Vitality 21.7
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 10
Rent-to-Income Ratio 21
Business Formation Rate 24
House Price Change (YoY) 79
Structural Poverty 14.9
Unemployment Rate 1
Poverty Rate 24
Income vs. State Median 1
Child Poverty Rate 27
Disability Rate 28
Transfer Income Dependency 13

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Madison County
Madison County, AL 52.3 Elevated —
Morgan County, AL 58.3 Elevated +6.0
Marshall County, AL 57.6 Elevated +5.3
Jackson County, AL 55.1 Elevated +2.8
Lincoln County, TN 53.3 Elevated +1.0
Franklin County, TN 49.8 Normal -2.5
Limestone County, AL 44.2 Normal -8.1

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Madison County
Kalamazoo County, MI 52.2 Elevated -0.1
Sedgwick County, KS 52.2 Elevated -0.1
Buncombe County, NC 52.0 Elevated -0.3
Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region, CT 52.0 Elevated -0.3
Arapahoe County, CO 52.7 Elevated +0.4

Download Data

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

Find Help in Madison County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Madison County.

COMMUNITY ACTION PARTNERSHIP, HUNTSVILLE/MADISON & LIMESTONE COUNTIES, INC
Huntsville
256-851-9800 Website
Foreclosure PreventionMortgage HelpFinancial CounselingFinancial Counseling
FAMILY SERVICES CENTER, INC.
Huntsville
256-551-1610 Website
Foreclosure PreventionMortgage HelpFinancial CounselingFinancial Counseling
NID-HCA MADISON
Madison
256-850-3132 Website
Home Improvement/RehabPost-PurchasePre-PurchaseHomebuyer Education

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 Madison 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 Madison County, Alabama?

    Madison County has a County Distress Index score of 52.3 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 1,432nd nationally out of 3,144 counties and 64th in Alabama out of 67 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Madison County?

    The primary driver of distress in Madison County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 85.1 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Madison County compare to neighboring counties?

    Madison County (52.3) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Morgan County, AL (58.3); Marshall County, AL (57.6); Jackson County, AL (55.1).

  • 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). Madison County's score of 52.3 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Madison 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 Madison County?

    Madison County, Alabama has a population of approximately 412,600 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a large county.