Montgomery County, Alabama

County Distress Index: Serious · 76.3 | 224,980 people · 6th most distressed in Alabama
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Montgomery County, AL shows significant household financial distress with a score of 76.3 — 149th 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 6th of 67 counties. Among its 7 neighboring counties, 5 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Montgomery 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
Housing Cost Burden 87.3
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 86
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 93
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 61
Homeownership Rate 95
Consumer Credit Distress 86.6
Debt in Collections 94
Medical Debt 59
Auto Loan Delinquency 96
Credit Card Delinquency 86
Uninsured Rate 69
Subprime Credit Population 96
Structural Poverty 45.4
Unemployment Rate 8
Poverty Rate 79
Income vs. State Median 23
Child Poverty Rate 82
Disability Rate 50
Transfer Income Dependency 40
Economic Vitality 24.0
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 7
Rent-to-Income Ratio 42
Business Formation Rate 11
House Price Change (YoY) 78

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Montgomery County
Montgomery County, AL 76.3 Serious —
Bullock County, AL 82.5 Crisis +6.2
Pike County, AL 78.4 Serious +2.1
Macon County, AL 75.5 Serious -0.8
Lowndes County, AL 70.7 Serious -5.5
Crenshaw County, AL 66.3 Serious -9.9
Elmore County, AL 55.8 Elevated -20.5
Autauga County, AL 52.5 Elevated -23.8

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Montgomery County
Muskogee County, OK 76.3 Serious +0.1
Madison County, TN 76.4 Serious +0.1
St. Landry Parish, LA 76.1 Serious -0.2
Lauderdale County, MS 76.5 Serious +0.3
Rapides Parish, LA 76.5 Serious +0.3

Download Data

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

Find Help in Montgomery County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Montgomery County.

LEGAL SERVICES ALABAMA INC
MONTGOMERY
886-456-4995 Website
Foreclosure PreventionFinancial CounselingHome Improvement/RehabHomeless/Displacement

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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 Montgomery 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.

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Frequently Asked Questions

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

    Montgomery County has a County Distress Index score of 76.3 out of 100, placing it in the Serious zone. It ranks 149th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 6th in Alabama out of 67 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Montgomery County?

    The primary driver of distress in Montgomery 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 Montgomery County compare to neighboring counties?

    Montgomery County (76.3) can be compared to its 7 neighboring counties: Bullock County, AL (82.5); Pike County, AL (78.4); Macon County, AL (75.5).

  • 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). Montgomery County's score of 76.3 sits in the Serious zone (71–86).

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

    Montgomery 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 Montgomery County?

    Montgomery County, Alabama has a population of approximately 224,980 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.