Chattooga County, Georgia

County Distress Index: Serious · 73.5 | 25,222 people · 57th most distressed in Georgia
American Default Research

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Chattooga County, GA shows significant household financial distress with a score of 73.5 — 247th 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 57th of 159 counties. Among its 4 neighboring counties, 3 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Chattooga County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 86.3 — worse than roughly 86% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 86.3
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 86
Consumer Credit Distress 80.9
Debt in Collections 93
Medical Debt 99
Auto Loan Delinquency 64
Credit Card Delinquency 55
Uninsured Rate 78
Subprime Credit Population 92
Structural Poverty 79.1
Unemployment Rate 58
Poverty Rate 88
Income vs. State Median 67
Child Poverty Rate 89
Disability Rate 81
Transfer Income Dependency 90
Economic Vitality 61.0
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 63
Rent-to-Income Ratio 66
Business Formation Rate 79
House Price Change (YoY) 4
Housing Cost Burden 55.3
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 77
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 35
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 17
Homeownership Rate 79

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Chattooga County
Chattooga County, GA 73.5 Serious —
Floyd County, GA 77.0 Serious +3.5
Walker County, GA 73.4 Serious -0.1
DeKalb County, AL 57.7 Elevated -15.8
Cherokee County, AL 56.6 Elevated -16.9

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Chattooga County
Greensville County, VA 73.6 Serious +0.0
Greene County, NC 73.6 Serious +0.1
Macon County, GA 73.4 Serious -0.1
Stephens County, GA 73.4 Serious -0.1
Tate County, MS 73.4 Serious -0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Chattooga 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 Chattooga 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 Chattooga County, Georgia?

    Chattooga County has a County Distress Index score of 73.5 out of 100, placing it in the Serious zone. It ranks 247th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 57th in Georgia out of 159 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Chattooga County?

    The primary driver of distress in Chattooga County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 86.3 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Chattooga County compare to neighboring counties?

    Chattooga County (73.5) can be compared to its 4 neighboring counties: Floyd County, GA (77.0); Walker County, GA (73.4); DeKalb County, AL (57.7).

  • 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). Chattooga County's score of 73.5 sits in the Serious zone (71–86).

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

    Chattooga 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 Chattooga County?

    Chattooga County, Georgia has a population of approximately 25,222 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.