Bacon County, Georgia

County Distress Index: Serious · 68.1 | 11,124 people · 89th most distressed in Georgia
American Default Research

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Bacon County, GA shows significant household financial distress with a score of 68.1 — 486th 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 89th 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. Bacon County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 90.7 — worse than roughly 91% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 90.7
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 91
Structural Poverty 72.8
Unemployment Rate 27
Poverty Rate 92
Income vs. State Median 76
Child Poverty Rate 92
Disability Rate 70
Transfer Income Dependency 72
Consumer Credit Distress 71.3
Debt in Collections 84
Medical Debt 95
Auto Loan Delinquency 11
Credit Card Delinquency 68
Uninsured Rate 87
Subprime Credit Population 90
Housing Cost Burden 61.0
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 62
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 76
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 18
Homeownership Rate 53
Economic Vitality 43.6
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 41
Rent-to-Income Ratio 73
Business Formation Rate 22
House Price Change (YoY) 6

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Bacon County
Bacon County, GA 68.1 Serious —
Ware County, GA 83.4 Crisis +15.4
Coffee County, GA 71.1 Serious +3.0
Pierce County, GA 64.7 Elevated -3.4
Jeff Davis County, GA 63.9 Elevated -4.2
Appling County, GA 62.3 Elevated -5.8

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Bacon County
Cherokee County, OK 68.1 Serious 0.0
Martin County, KY 68.1 Serious -0.0
Columbia County, AR 68.1 Serious +0.0
Franklin Parish, LA 68.0 Serious -0.1
Simpson County, KY 68.0 Serious -0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Bacon 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 Bacon 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 Bacon County, Georgia?

    Bacon County has a County Distress Index score of 68.1 out of 100, placing it in the Serious zone. It ranks 486th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 89th in Georgia out of 159 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Bacon County?

    The primary driver of distress in Bacon County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 90.7 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Bacon County compare to neighboring counties?

    Bacon County (68.1) can be compared to its 5 neighboring counties: Ware County, GA (83.4); Coffee County, GA (71.1); Pierce County, GA (64.7).

  • 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). Bacon County's score of 68.1 sits in the Serious zone (71–86).

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

    Bacon 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 Bacon County?

    Bacon County, Georgia has a population of approximately 11,124 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.