Bryan County, Georgia

County Distress Index: Elevated · 55.9 | 49,739 people · 137th most distressed in Georgia
American Default Research

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

Bryan County, GA registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 55.9 — 1206th 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 137th of 159 counties. Among its 5 neighboring counties, 4 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Bryan County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 70.2 — above the national median.

Legal Distress Primary driver 70.2
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 70
Economic Vitality 65.0
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 96
Rent-to-Income Ratio 46
Business Formation Rate 14
House Price Change (YoY) 64
Housing Cost Burden 64.4
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 83
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 46
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 96
Homeownership Rate 44
Consumer Credit Distress 61.3
Debt in Collections 62
Medical Debt 86
Auto Loan Delinquency 45
Credit Card Delinquency 66
Uninsured Rate 55
Subprime Credit Population 57
Structural Poverty 9.5
Unemployment Rate 13
Poverty Rate 8
Income vs. State Median 1
Child Poverty Rate 9
Disability Rate 15
Transfer Income Dependency 13

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Bryan County
Bryan County, GA 55.9 Elevated —
Liberty County, GA 79.0 Serious +23.1
Chatham County, GA 79.0 Serious +23.1
Bulloch County, GA 74.4 Serious +18.4
Evans County, GA 72.6 Serious +16.7
Effingham County, GA 55.5 Elevated -0.4

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Bryan County
Crawford County, OH 55.9 Elevated -0.0
Neosho County, KS 56.0 Elevated +0.0
Wakulla County, FL 55.9 Elevated -0.1
Calhoun County, TX 56.0 Elevated +0.1
Callahan County, TX 56.0 Elevated +0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Bryan 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 Bryan 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 →

Continue Reading

Frequently Asked Questions

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

    Bryan County has a County Distress Index score of 55.9 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 1,206th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 137th in Georgia out of 159 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Bryan County?

    The primary driver of distress in Bryan County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 70.2 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Bryan County compare to neighboring counties?

    Bryan County (55.9) can be compared to its 5 neighboring counties: Liberty County, GA (79.0); Chatham County, GA (79.0); Bulloch County, GA (74.4).

  • 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). Bryan County's score of 55.9 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Bryan 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 Bryan County?

    Bryan County, Georgia has a population of approximately 49,739 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.