Berrien County, Georgia

County Distress Index: Serious · 67.6 | 18,570 people · 95th most distressed in Georgia
American Default Research

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Berrien County, GA shows significant household financial distress with a score of 67.6 — 519th 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 95th of 159 counties. It scores lower than all 7 of its neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Berrien 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 79.8
Debt in Collections 95
Medical Debt 95
Auto Loan Delinquency 38
Credit Card Delinquency 69
Uninsured Rate 95
Subprime Credit Population 93
Structural Poverty 68.6
Unemployment Rate 13
Poverty Rate 81
Income vs. State Median 69
Child Poverty Rate 87
Disability Rate 71
Transfer Income Dependency 78
Economic Vitality 58.6
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 71
Rent-to-Income Ratio 68
Business Formation Rate 40
House Price Change (YoY) 5
Housing Cost Burden 35.6
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 31
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 31
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 12
Homeownership Rate 74

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Berrien County
Berrien County, GA 67.6 Serious —
Cook County, GA 80.7 Crisis +13.1
Lowndes County, GA 79.7 Serious +12.1
Lanier County, GA 78.7 Serious +11.1
Atkinson County, GA 74.4 Serious +6.8
Coffee County, GA 71.1 Serious +3.5
Tift County, GA 70.2 Serious +2.6
Irwin County, GA 68.8 Serious +1.2

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Berrien County
Houston County, TX 67.6 Serious +0.0
Assumption Parish, LA 67.5 Serious -0.0
Carter County, OK 67.7 Serious +0.1
Johnson County, AR 67.7 Serious +0.1
Baker County, FL 67.7 Serious +0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Berrien 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 Berrien 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.

Need legal help? Find a foreclosure defense attorney in Georgia →

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the distress score for Berrien County, Georgia?

    Berrien County has a County Distress Index score of 67.6 out of 100, placing it in the Serious zone. It ranks 519th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 95th in Georgia out of 159 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Berrien County?

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

    Berrien County (67.6) can be compared to its 7 neighboring counties: Cook County, GA (80.7); Lowndes County, GA (79.7); Lanier County, GA (78.7).

  • 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). Berrien County's score of 67.6 sits in the Serious zone (71–86).

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

    Berrien 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 Berrien County?

    Berrien County, Georgia has a population of approximately 18,570 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.