Cobb County, Georgia

County Distress Index: Elevated · 61.0 | 776,743 people · 129th most distressed in Georgia
American Default Research

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Cobb County, GA registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 61.0 — 886th 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 129th 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. Cobb County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 81.7 — worse than roughly 82% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 81.7
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 82
Housing Cost Burden 78.4
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 87
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 74
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 62
Homeownership Rate 80
Consumer Credit Distress 65.6
Debt in Collections 59
Medical Debt 73
Auto Loan Delinquency 71
Credit Card Delinquency 62
Uninsured Rate 78
Subprime Credit Population 61
Economic Vitality 55.5
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 72
Rent-to-Income Ratio 59
Business Formation Rate 1
House Price Change (YoY) 69
Structural Poverty 9.3
Unemployment Rate 27
Poverty Rate 12
Income vs. State Median 1
Child Poverty Rate 20
Disability Rate 3
Transfer Income Dependency 4

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Cobb County
Cobb County, GA 61.0 Elevated —
Douglas County, GA 78.0 Serious +16.9
Fulton County, GA 68.0 Serious +7.0
Bartow County, GA 67.4 Serious +6.4
Paulding County, GA 63.4 Elevated +2.4
Cherokee County, GA 47.3 Normal -13.7

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Cobb County
Brevard County, FL 61.0 Elevated -0.0
Pinellas County, FL 61.0 Elevated -0.0
Hays County, TX 61.1 Elevated +0.1
Lehigh County, PA 61.2 Elevated +0.2
Spartanburg County, SC 61.2 Elevated +0.2

Download Data

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

Find Help in Cobb County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Cobb County.

NATIONAL FAITH HOMEBUYERS, ATLANTA BRANCH
Marietta
678-553-3770 Website
Foreclosure PreventionFinancial CounselingFair HousingHomeless/Displacement

See all counselors in Georgia →

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 Cobb 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 Cobb County, Georgia?

    Cobb County has a County Distress Index score of 61.0 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 886th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 129th in Georgia out of 159 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Cobb County?

    The primary driver of distress in Cobb County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 81.7 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Cobb County compare to neighboring counties?

    Cobb County (61.0) can be compared to its 5 neighboring counties: Douglas County, GA (78.0); Fulton County, GA (68.0); Bartow County, GA (67.4).

  • 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). Cobb County's score of 61.0 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Cobb 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 Cobb County?

    Cobb County, Georgia has a population of approximately 776,743 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a large county.