Brantley County, Georgia

County Distress Index: Serious · 67.0 | 18,401 people · 101st most distressed in Georgia
American Default Research

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Brantley County, GA shows significant household financial distress with a score of 67.0 — 551st 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 101st of 159 counties. Among its 6 neighboring counties, 5 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Brantley County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 93.6 — worse than roughly 94% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 93.6
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 94
Consumer Credit Distress 82.6
Debt in Collections 89
Medical Debt 95
Auto Loan Delinquency 70
Credit Card Delinquency 66
Uninsured Rate 92
Subprime Credit Population 88
Economic Vitality 78.9
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 91
Rent-to-Income Ratio 89
Business Formation Rate 69
House Price Change (YoY) 5
Structural Poverty 58.9
Unemployment Rate 19
Poverty Rate 77
Income vs. State Median 39
Child Poverty Rate 82
Disability Rate 54
Transfer Income Dependency 77
Housing Cost Burden 24.6
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 13
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 34
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 16
Homeownership Rate 34

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Brantley County
Brantley County, GA 67.0 Serious —
Ware County, GA 83.4 Crisis +16.5
Charlton County, GA 82.5 Crisis +15.6
Wayne County, GA 74.5 Serious +7.6
Camden County, GA 68.2 Serious +1.3
Glynn County, GA 67.2 Serious +0.2
Pierce County, GA 64.7 Elevated -2.3

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Brantley County
Marion County, SC 66.9 Serious -0.0
Falls County, TX 67.0 Serious +0.1
Scott County, MO 67.0 Serious +0.1
Caddo County, OK 67.0 Serious +0.1
Camp County, TX 66.9 Serious -0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Brantley 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 Brantley 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 Brantley County, Georgia?

    Brantley County has a County Distress Index score of 67.0 out of 100, placing it in the Serious zone. It ranks 551st nationally out of 3,144 counties and 101st in Georgia out of 159 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Brantley County?

    The primary driver of distress in Brantley County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 93.6 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Brantley County compare to neighboring counties?

    Brantley County (67.0) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Ware County, GA (83.4); Charlton County, GA (82.5); Wayne County, GA (74.5).

  • 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). Brantley County's score of 67.0 sits in the Serious zone (71–86).

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

    Brantley 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 Brantley County?

    Brantley County, Georgia has a population of approximately 18,401 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.