Atkinson County, Georgia

County Distress Index: Serious · 74.4 | 8,293 people · 52nd most distressed in Georgia
American Default Research

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Atkinson County, GA shows significant household financial distress with a score of 74.4 — 211th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Legal Distress, where bankruptcy filing rates are well above the national average. Within Georgia, it ranks 52nd of 159 counties. Among its 5 neighboring counties, 3 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Atkinson 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
Consumer Credit Distress 88.7
Debt in Collections 94
Medical Debt 95
Auto Loan Delinquency 92
Credit Card Delinquency 68
Uninsured Rate 95
Subprime Credit Population 90
Structural Poverty 68.2
Unemployment Rate 34
Poverty Rate 91
Income vs. State Median 89
Child Poverty Rate 95
Disability Rate 24
Transfer Income Dependency 65
Economic Vitality 53.8
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 36
Rent-to-Income Ratio 85
Business Formation Rate 49
House Price Change (YoY) 59
Housing Cost Burden 49.3
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 60
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 31
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 25
Homeownership Rate 85

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Atkinson County
Atkinson County, GA 74.4 Serious —
Ware County, GA 83.4 Crisis +9.0
Lanier County, GA 78.7 Serious +4.3
Coffee County, GA 71.1 Serious -3.3
Clinch County, GA 68.4 Serious -6.0
Berrien County, GA 67.6 Serious -6.8

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Atkinson County
Talbot County, GA 74.4 Serious +0.0
Monroe County, AR 74.6 Serious +0.2
Wilcox County, AL 74.6 Serious +0.2
Crosby County, TX 74.8 Serious +0.4
Emporia city, VA 73.8 Serious -0.6

Download Data

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

Find Help in Atkinson County

Find an Attorney

State Bar of Georgia Lawyer Referral Service offers a lawyer referral service for bankruptcy, foreclosure defense, and consumer rights.

State Bar of Georgia Lawyer Referral Service 404-527-8700

Free Legal Aid

Legal aid organizations serving Atkinson County residents at no cost.

Atlanta Legal Aid Society 404-524-5811
Georgia Legal Services Program 1-888-257-4567
Georgia Legal Aid
State Bar of Georgia Lawyer Referral Service 404-527-8700

Self-Help Resources

Georgia Legal Aid — Housing Self-help guides for Georgia foreclosure process, rights, and defenses
DCA Georgia HAF Resources Assistance programs and housing counselor referrals

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 Atkinson County, Georgia?

    Atkinson County has a County Distress Index score of 74.4 out of 100, placing it in the Serious zone. It ranks 211th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 52nd in Georgia out of 159 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Atkinson County?

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

    Atkinson County (74.4) can be compared to its 5 neighboring counties: Ware County, GA (83.4); Lanier County, GA (78.7); Coffee County, GA (71.1).

  • 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). Atkinson County's score of 74.4 sits in the Serious zone (71–86).

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

    Atkinson 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 Atkinson County?

    Atkinson County, Georgia has a population of approximately 8,293 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a tiny county.