Clinch County, Georgia

County Distress Index: Serious · 68.4 | 6,746 people · 87th most distressed in Georgia
American Default Research

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Clinch County, GA shows significant household financial distress with a score of 68.4 — 469th 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 87th of 159 counties. Among its 6 neighboring counties, 4 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Clinch 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 85.2
Debt in Collections 92
Medical Debt 95
Auto Loan Delinquency 84
Credit Card Delinquency 52
Uninsured Rate 95
Subprime Credit Population 95
Structural Poverty 75.5
Unemployment Rate 27
Poverty Rate 93
Income vs. State Median 87
Child Poverty Rate 88
Disability Rate 58
Transfer Income Dependency 85
Economic Vitality 61.7
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 53
Rent-to-Income Ratio 82
Business Formation Rate 53
House Price Change (YoY) 59
Housing Cost Burden 22.2
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 5
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 11
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 48
Homeownership Rate 70

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Clinch County
Clinch County, GA 68.4 Serious —
Ware County, GA 83.4 Crisis +15.0
Lanier County, GA 78.7 Serious +10.3
Atkinson County, GA 74.4 Serious +6.0
Columbia County, FL 71.0 Serious +2.6
Baker County, FL 67.7 Serious -0.7
Echols County, GA 66.3 Serious -2.1

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Clinch County
Kemper County, MS 68.3 Serious -0.1
Lafayette County, AR 68.3 Serious -0.1
Dickens County, TX 68.5 Serious +0.1
Duval County, TX 68.7 Serious +0.3
McCulloch County, TX 68.7 Serious +0.3

Download Data

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

Find Help in Clinch 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 Clinch 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 Clinch County, Georgia?

    Clinch County has a County Distress Index score of 68.4 out of 100, placing it in the Serious zone. It ranks 469th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 87th in Georgia out of 159 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Clinch County?

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

    Clinch County (68.4) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Ware County, GA (83.4); Lanier County, GA (78.7); Atkinson 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 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). Clinch County's score of 68.4 sits in the Serious zone (71–86).

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

    Clinch 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 Clinch County?

    Clinch County, Georgia has a population of approximately 6,746 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a tiny county.