Perry County, Alabama

County Distress Index: Serious · 70.7 | 7,738 people · 21st most distressed in Alabama
American Default Research

Behind on your mortgage or facing eviction? Take a 2-minute assessment to see your options.

Perry County, AL shows significant household financial distress with a score of 70.7 — 361st 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 21st of 67 counties. Among its 5 neighboring counties, 4 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Perry County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 95.0 — worse than roughly 95% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 95.0
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 95
Structural Poverty 93.5
Unemployment Rate 83
Poverty Rate 95
Income vs. State Median 95
Child Poverty Rate 95
Disability Rate 95
Transfer Income Dependency 95
Consumer Credit Distress 84.6
Debt in Collections 95
Medical Debt 49
Auto Loan Delinquency 95
Credit Card Delinquency 95
Uninsured Rate 45
Subprime Credit Population 95
Economic Vitality 46.3
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 29
Rent-to-Income Ratio 92
Business Formation Rate 9
House Price Change (YoY) 67
Housing Cost Burden 29.1
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 30
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 11
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 26
Homeownership Rate 73

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Perry County
Perry County, AL 70.7 Serious —
Dallas County, AL 84.6 Crisis +13.9
Bibb County, AL 75.0 Serious +4.3
Hale County, AL 72.1 Serious +1.4
Marengo County, AL 72.0 Serious +1.3
Chilton County, AL 61.3 Elevated -9.4

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Perry County
Lowndes County, AL 70.7 Serious +0.1
Wolfe County, KY 70.5 Serious -0.1
Webster County, WV 70.5 Serious -0.2
Oregon County, MO 70.5 Serious -0.2
Taliaferro County, GA 70.4 Serious -0.3

Download Data

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

Find Help in Perry County

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 Perry 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 →

Continue Reading

Frequently Asked Questions

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

    Perry County has a County Distress Index score of 70.7 out of 100, placing it in the Serious zone. It ranks 361st nationally out of 3,144 counties and 21st in Alabama out of 67 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Perry County?

    The primary driver of distress in Perry County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 95.0 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Perry County compare to neighboring counties?

    Perry County (70.7) can be compared to its 5 neighboring counties: Dallas County, AL (84.6); Bibb County, AL (75.0); Hale County, AL (72.1).

  • 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 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). Perry County's score of 70.7 sits in the Serious zone (71–86).

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

    Perry 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 Perry County?

    Perry County, Alabama has a population of approximately 7,738 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a tiny county.