Holmes County, Florida

County Distress Index: Elevated · 62.8 | 19,944 people · 43rd most distressed in Florida
American Default Research

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

Holmes County, FL registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 62.8 — 779th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Structural Poverty, where poverty rates are high, transfer income dependency is elevated, and household incomes lag well behind state and national medians. Within Florida, it ranks 43rd of 67 counties. Among its 4 neighboring counties, 3 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Holmes County's primary driver is Structural Poverty at 83.3 — worse than roughly 83% of U.S. counties.

Structural Poverty Primary driver 83.3
Unemployment Rate 80
Poverty Rate 79
Income vs. State Median 94
Child Poverty Rate 86
Disability Rate 64
Transfer Income Dependency 89
Consumer Credit Distress 79.5
Debt in Collections 82
Medical Debt 75
Auto Loan Delinquency 78
Credit Card Delinquency 89
Uninsured Rate 83
Subprime Credit Population 73
Economic Vitality 68.2
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 83
Rent-to-Income Ratio 80
Business Formation Rate 41
House Price Change (YoY) 10
Legal Distress 38.9
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 39
Housing Cost Burden 20.3
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 16
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 20
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 10
Homeownership Rate 37

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Holmes County
Holmes County, FL 62.8 Elevated —
Jackson County, FL 76.3 Serious +13.5
Geneva County, AL 69.2 Serious +6.4
Washington County, FL 65.2 Serious +2.3
Walton County, FL 52.5 Elevated -10.3

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Holmes County
Shelby County, TX 62.8 Elevated -0.0
Fayette County, WV 62.8 Elevated -0.1
Sevier County, AR 62.9 Elevated +0.1
Boyle County, KY 62.7 Elevated -0.1
Henry County, MO 62.9 Elevated +0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Holmes County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Holmes County.

UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA/FLORIDA COOPERATIVE EXTENSION - HOLMES COUNTY COOPERATIVE EXTENSION SERVICE
Bonifay
850-547-1108 Website
Financial CounselingFinancial CounselingFair HousingHome Improvement/Rehab

See all counselors in Florida →

Find an Attorney

The Florida Bar — Lawyer Referral Service offers a lawyer referral service for bankruptcy, foreclosure defense, and consumer rights.

The Florida Bar — Lawyer Referral Service 1-800-342-8011

Free Legal Aid

Legal aid organizations serving Holmes County residents at no cost.

Florida Rural Legal Services (FRLS) 1-239-334-4554
Legal Services of Greater Miami (LSGMI) 1-305-576-0080
Coast to Coast Legal Aid of South Florida 1-954-736-2400
Community Legal Services of Mid-Florida (CLSMF) 1-800-405-1417
Bay Area Legal Services 1-800-625-2257
Legal Services of North Florida 1-850-385-9007
Three Rivers Legal Services 1-866-256-8091

Self-Help Resources

The Florida Bar — Foreclosure Crisis Help for Consumers Official Florida Bar resource page for homeowners facing foreclosure, including information on finding an attorney, legal aid referrals, and understanding the foreclosure process.
Florida Courts — Residential Mortgage Foreclosure Cases Florida Supreme Court page with information on residential mortgage foreclosure cases, including links to administrative orders, mediation resources, and the Managed Mediation program.
Florida AG — Resources Available to Distressed Homeowners Florida Attorney General's office page with resources for distressed homeowners, including information on mortgage fraud, foreclosure rescue scams, and how to file complaints.
Florida LawHelp Statewide legal aid directory connecting Floridians with free legal information and local legal aid providers for foreclosure prevention and other civil legal needs.

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 Florida →

Continue Reading

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the distress score for Holmes County, Florida?

    Holmes County has a County Distress Index score of 62.8 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 779th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 43rd in Florida out of 67 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Holmes County?

    The primary driver of distress in Holmes County is Structural Poverty, where the county scores 83.3 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Unemployment Rate, Poverty Rate, Income vs. State Median.

  • How does Holmes County compare to neighboring counties?

    Holmes County (62.8) can be compared to its 4 neighboring counties: Jackson County, FL (76.3); Geneva County, AL (69.2); Washington County, FL (65.2).

  • 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). Holmes County's score of 62.8 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Holmes 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 Holmes County?

    Holmes County, Florida has a population of approximately 19,944 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.