Walker County, Alabama

County Distress Index: Elevated · 62.6 | 64,728 people · 38th most distressed in Alabama
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Walker County, AL registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 62.6 — 792nd 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 38th of 67 counties. Among its 7 neighboring counties, 4 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Walker County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 90.9 — worse than roughly 91% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 90.9
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 91
Consumer Credit Distress 78.3
Debt in Collections 81
Medical Debt 75
Auto Loan Delinquency 86
Credit Card Delinquency 72
Uninsured Rate 75
Subprime Credit Population 78
Structural Poverty 56.3
Unemployment Rate 3
Poverty Rate 76
Income vs. State Median 28
Child Poverty Rate 75
Disability Rate 94
Transfer Income Dependency 65
Housing Cost Burden 38.0
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 31
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 47
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 38
Homeownership Rate 33
Economic Vitality 28.3
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 19
Rent-to-Income Ratio 22
Business Formation Rate 72
House Price Change (YoY) 8

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Walker County
Walker County, AL 62.6 Elevated —
Jefferson County, AL 72.2 Serious +9.5
Tuscaloosa County, AL 72.1 Serious +9.4
Marion County, AL 63.6 Elevated +1.0
Fayette County, AL 61.9 Elevated -0.7
Blount County, AL 58.2 Elevated -4.4
Cullman County, AL 56.0 Elevated -6.7
Winston County, AL 55.8 Elevated -6.9

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Walker County
Craven County, NC 62.6 Elevated -0.1
Muskingum County, OH 62.7 Elevated +0.1
Randolph County, NC 62.5 Elevated -0.1
Hall County, GA 62.8 Elevated +0.1
Cherokee County, TX 62.8 Elevated +0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Walker County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Walker County.

WALKER COUNTY COMMUNITY ACTION AGENCY
Jasper
205-221-4011 Website
Foreclosure PreventionFinancial CounselingFinancial CounselingFair Housing

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 Walker 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 Walker County, Alabama?

    Walker County has a County Distress Index score of 62.6 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 792nd nationally out of 3,144 counties and 38th in Alabama out of 67 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Walker County?

    The primary driver of distress in Walker County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 90.9 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Walker County compare to neighboring counties?

    Walker County (62.6) can be compared to its 7 neighboring counties: Jefferson County, AL (72.2); Tuscaloosa County, AL (72.1); Marion County, AL (63.6).

  • 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). Walker County's score of 62.6 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Walker 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 Walker County?

    Walker County, Alabama has a population of approximately 64,728 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.