Marion County, Alabama

County Distress Index: Elevated · 63.6 | 29,244 people · 34th most distressed in Alabama
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Marion County, AL registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 63.6 — 732nd 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 34th of 67 counties. Among its 7 neighboring counties, 6 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Marion County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 94.2 — worse than roughly 94% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 94.2
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 94
Consumer Credit Distress 74.5
Debt in Collections 77
Medical Debt 52
Auto Loan Delinquency 71
Credit Card Delinquency 96
Uninsured Rate 66
Subprime Credit Population 76
Structural Poverty 69.5
Unemployment Rate 6
Poverty Rate 82
Income vs. State Median 67
Child Poverty Rate 78
Disability Rate 99
Transfer Income Dependency 74
Housing Cost Burden 41.8
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 57
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 20
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 61
Homeownership Rate 46
Economic Vitality 27.1
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 6
Rent-to-Income Ratio 29
Business Formation Rate 86
House Price Change (YoY) 13

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Marion County
Marion County, AL 63.6 Elevated —
Monroe County, MS 65.4 Serious +1.8
Walker County, AL 62.6 Elevated -1.0
Fayette County, AL 61.9 Elevated -1.7
Lamar County, AL 60.5 Elevated -3.1
Franklin County, AL 59.1 Elevated -4.6
Winston County, AL 55.8 Elevated -7.9
Itawamba County, MS 50.5 Elevated -13.2

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Marion County
Brunswick County, VA 63.7 Elevated +0.0
Beaufort County, NC 63.6 Elevated -0.0
Marion County, TN 63.7 Elevated +0.0
Tippah County, MS 63.7 Elevated +0.0
Nottoway County, VA 63.7 Elevated +0.0

Download Data

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

Find Help in Marion 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

Free Legal Aid

Legal aid organizations serving Marion County residents at no cost.

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Frequently Asked Questions

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

    Marion County has a County Distress Index score of 63.6 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 732nd nationally out of 3,144 counties and 34th in Alabama out of 67 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Marion County?

    The primary driver of distress in Marion County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 94.2 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Marion County compare to neighboring counties?

    Marion County (63.6) can be compared to its 7 neighboring counties: Monroe County, MS (65.4); Walker County, AL (62.6); Fayette County, AL (61.9).

  • 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). Marion County's score of 63.6 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Marion 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 Marion County?

    Marion County, Alabama has a population of approximately 29,244 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.