Sumter County, Alabama

County Distress Index: Serious · 76.7 | 11,727 people · 5th most distressed in Alabama
American Default Research

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Sumter County, AL shows significant household financial distress with a score of 76.7 — 136th 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 5th of 67 counties. Among its 7 neighboring counties, 6 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Sumter County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 93.2 — worse than roughly 93% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 93.2
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 93
Consumer Credit Distress 84.5
Debt in Collections 93
Medical Debt 53
Auto Loan Delinquency 95
Credit Card Delinquency 87
Uninsured Rate 60
Subprime Credit Population 95
Structural Poverty 83.6
Unemployment Rate 27
Poverty Rate 95
Income vs. State Median 95
Child Poverty Rate 95
Disability Rate 79
Transfer Income Dependency 93
Housing Cost Burden 66.2
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 50
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 77
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 75
Homeownership Rate 72
Economic Vitality 38.8
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 13
Rent-to-Income Ratio 88
Business Formation Rate 15
House Price Change (YoY) 67

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Sumter County
Sumter County, AL 76.7 Serious —
Noxubee County, MS 83.5 Crisis +6.7
Lauderdale County, MS 76.5 Serious -0.2
Greene County, AL 72.9 Serious -3.9
Marengo County, AL 72.0 Serious -4.8
Pickens County, AL 69.6 Serious -7.1
Kemper County, MS 68.3 Serious -8.4
Choctaw County, AL 66.2 Serious -10.5

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Sumter County
Worth County, GA 76.7 Serious 0.0
Martinsville city, VA 76.7 Serious -0.0
Terry County, TX 76.8 Serious +0.0
Bertie County, NC 76.6 Serious -0.1
Mississippi County, AR 76.8 Serious +0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Sumter 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

Free Legal Aid

Legal aid organizations serving Sumter County residents at no cost.

Legal Services Alabama 1-866-456-4995
Alabama State Bar Lawyer Referral Service 1-800-392-5660

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Frequently Asked Questions

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

    Sumter County has a County Distress Index score of 76.7 out of 100, placing it in the Serious zone. It ranks 136th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 5th in Alabama out of 67 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Sumter County?

    The primary driver of distress in Sumter County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 93.2 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Sumter County compare to neighboring counties?

    Sumter County (76.7) can be compared to its 7 neighboring counties: Noxubee County, MS (83.5); Lauderdale County, MS (76.5); Greene County, AL (72.9).

  • 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 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). Sumter County's score of 76.7 sits in the Serious zone (71–86).

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

    Sumter 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 Sumter County?

    Sumter County, Alabama has a population of approximately 11,727 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.