Pike County, Alabama

County Distress Index: Serious · 78.4 | 33,137 people · 4th most distressed in Alabama
American Default Research

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Pike County, AL shows significant household financial distress with a score of 78.4 — 95th 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 4th of 67 counties. Among its 6 neighboring counties, 5 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Pike 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 89.7
Debt in Collections 93
Medical Debt 93
Auto Loan Delinquency 96
Credit Card Delinquency 86
Uninsured Rate 51
Subprime Credit Population 96
Housing Cost Burden 77.4
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 77
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 91
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 15
Homeownership Rate 89
Structural Poverty 58.4
Unemployment Rate 8
Poverty Rate 94
Income vs. State Median 60
Child Poverty Rate 94
Disability Rate 40
Transfer Income Dependency 52
Economic Vitality 35.9
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 15
Rent-to-Income Ratio 55
Business Formation Rate 68
House Price Change (YoY) 23

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Pike County
Pike County, AL 78.4 Serious —
Bullock County, AL 82.5 Crisis +4.1
Montgomery County, AL 76.3 Serious -2.1
Barbour County, AL 72.1 Serious -6.3
Crenshaw County, AL 66.3 Serious -12.0
Dale County, AL 62.4 Elevated -16.0
Coffee County, AL 56.3 Elevated -22.1

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Pike County
Kleberg County, TX 78.6 Serious +0.2
Hardee County, FL 78.6 Serious +0.2
Washington County, NC 78.1 Serious -0.3
Lanier County, GA 78.7 Serious +0.3
Sunflower County, MS 78.7 Serious +0.3

Download Data

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

Find Help in Pike 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

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Legal aid organizations serving Pike County residents at no cost.

Legal Services Alabama 1-866-456-4995
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Frequently Asked Questions

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

    Pike County has a County Distress Index score of 78.4 out of 100, placing it in the Serious zone. It ranks 95th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 4th in Alabama out of 67 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Pike County?

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

    Pike County (78.4) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Bullock County, AL (82.5); Montgomery County, AL (76.3); Barbour 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). Pike County's score of 78.4 sits in the Serious zone (71–86).

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

    Pike 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 Pike County?

    Pike County, Alabama has a population of approximately 33,137 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.