Morgan County, Alabama

County Distress Index: Elevated · 58.3 | 125,133 people · 46th most distressed in Alabama
American Default Research

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Morgan County, AL registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 58.3 — 1053rd 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 46th 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. Morgan County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 82.9 — worse than roughly 83% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 82.9
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 83
Consumer Credit Distress 72.2
Debt in Collections 72
Medical Debt 82
Auto Loan Delinquency 79
Credit Card Delinquency 62
Uninsured Rate 72
Subprime Credit Population 68
Housing Cost Burden 50.5
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 47
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 58
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 22
Homeownership Rate 60
Structural Poverty 32.4
Unemployment Rate 1
Poverty Rate 38
Income vs. State Median 9
Child Poverty Rate 44
Disability Rate 62
Transfer Income Dependency 42
Economic Vitality 24.2
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 6
Rent-to-Income Ratio 8
Business Formation Rate 65
House Price Change (YoY) 89

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Morgan County
Morgan County, AL 58.3 Elevated —
Marshall County, AL 57.6 Elevated -0.7
Cullman County, AL 56.0 Elevated -2.3
Lawrence County, AL 54.9 Elevated -3.4
Madison County, AL 52.3 Elevated -6.0
Limestone County, AL 44.2 Normal -14.1

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Morgan County
Richland County, OH 58.3 Elevated -0.0
Hood County, TX 58.4 Elevated +0.1
Washington County, MD 58.2 Elevated -0.1
Josephine County, OR 58.2 Elevated -0.1
LaPorte County, IN 58.4 Elevated +0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Morgan County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Morgan County.

COMMUNITY ACTION PARTNERSHIP OF NORTH ALABAMA, INC.
Decatur
256-355-7843 Website
Foreclosure PreventionFinancial CounselingFinancial CounselingHome Improvement/Rehab

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 Morgan 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 Morgan County, Alabama?

    Morgan County has a County Distress Index score of 58.3 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 1,053rd nationally out of 3,144 counties and 46th in Alabama out of 67 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Morgan County?

    The primary driver of distress in Morgan County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 82.9 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Morgan County compare to neighboring counties?

    Morgan County (58.3) can be compared to its 5 neighboring counties: Marshall County, AL (57.6); Cullman County, AL (56.0); Lawrence County, AL (54.9).

  • 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). Morgan County's score of 58.3 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Morgan 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 Morgan County?

    Morgan County, Alabama has a population of approximately 125,133 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.