Mobile County, Alabama

County Distress Index: Serious · 76.2 | 411,640 people · 7th most distressed in Alabama
American Default Research

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Mobile County, AL shows significant household financial distress with a score of 76.2 — 150th 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 7th of 67 counties. It scores higher than all 5 of its neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Mobile County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 98.8 — worse than roughly 99% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 98.8
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 99
Consumer Credit Distress 86.6
Debt in Collections 88
Medical Debt 77
Auto Loan Delinquency 90
Credit Card Delinquency 91
Uninsured Rate 70
Subprime Credit Population 92
Housing Cost Burden 82.4
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 87
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 83
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 60
Homeownership Rate 85
Structural Poverty 47.2
Unemployment Rate 16
Poverty Rate 69
Income vs. State Median 37
Child Poverty Rate 79
Disability Rate 32
Transfer Income Dependency 50
Economic Vitality 32.5
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 14
Rent-to-Income Ratio 70
Business Formation Rate 6
House Price Change (YoY) 68

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Mobile County
Mobile County, AL 76.2 Serious —
Jackson County, MS 64.6 Elevated -11.6
Greene County, MS 60.9 Elevated -15.3
Washington County, AL 56.5 Elevated -19.7
George County, MS 56.4 Elevated -19.9
Baldwin County, AL 52.8 Elevated -23.4

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Mobile County
Nueces County, TX 76.3 Serious +0.1
DeKalb County, GA 75.7 Serious -0.5
Richland County, SC 75.5 Serious -0.7
El Paso County, TX 78.0 Serious +1.8
Lubbock County, TX 74.3 Serious -1.9

Download Data

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

Find Help in Mobile County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Mobile County.

CCCS OF MOBILE
Mobile
251-602-0011
Foreclosure PreventionFinancial CounselingPost-PurchasePre-Lease/Pre-Purchase
CENTER FOR FAIR HOUSING
Mobile
251-479-1532 Website
Foreclosure PreventionFinancial CounselingFair HousingPost-Purchase
RENAISSANCE COMMUNITY LOAN FUND-MOBILE COUNTY, AL
Mobile
228-896-3386 Website
Foreclosure PreventionMortgage HelpFinancial CounselingFinancial Counseling

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 Mobile 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 Mobile County, Alabama?

    Mobile County has a County Distress Index score of 76.2 out of 100, placing it in the Serious zone. It ranks 150th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 7th in Alabama out of 67 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Mobile County?

    The primary driver of distress in Mobile County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 98.8 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Mobile County compare to neighboring counties?

    Mobile County (76.2) can be compared to its 5 neighboring counties: Jackson County, MS (64.6); Greene County, MS (60.9); Washington County, AL (56.5).

  • 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 Serious 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). Mobile County's score of 76.2 sits in the Serious zone (71–86).

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

    Mobile 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 Mobile County?

    Mobile County, Alabama has a population of approximately 411,640 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a large county.