Cook County, Georgia

County Distress Index: Crisis · 80.7 | 17,714 people · 19th most distressed in Georgia
American Default Research

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Cook County, GA ranks among the most financially distressed counties in America with a score of 80.7 — 54th 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 19th of 159 counties. Among its 5 neighboring counties, 4 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Cook 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 91.7
Debt in Collections 94
Medical Debt 95
Auto Loan Delinquency 92
Credit Card Delinquency 81
Uninsured Rate 94
Subprime Credit Population 95
Housing Cost Burden 71.2
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 81
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 72
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 16
Homeownership Rate 86
Structural Poverty 68.8
Unemployment Rate 30
Poverty Rate 85
Income vs. State Median 71
Child Poverty Rate 89
Disability Rate 52
Transfer Income Dependency 76
Economic Vitality 53.4
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 66
Rent-to-Income Ratio 69
Business Formation Rate 15
House Price Change (YoY) 18

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Cook County
Cook County, GA 80.7 Crisis —
Brooks County, GA 81.0 Crisis +0.3
Lowndes County, GA 79.7 Serious -1.0
Colquitt County, GA 71.9 Serious -8.8
Tift County, GA 70.2 Serious -10.5
Berrien County, GA 67.6 Serious -13.1

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Cook County
Grady County, GA 80.4 Crisis -0.3
Jim Wells County, TX 81.0 Crisis +0.3
Brooks County, GA 81.0 Crisis +0.3
Webster Parish, LA 80.3 Crisis -0.4
St. Bernard Parish, LA 80.3 Crisis -0.4

Download Data

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

Find Help in Cook 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 Cook 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 Cook County, Georgia?

    Cook County has a County Distress Index score of 80.7 out of 100, placing it in the Crisis zone. It ranks 54th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 19th in Georgia out of 159 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Cook County?

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

    Cook County (80.7) can be compared to its 5 neighboring counties: Brooks County, GA (81.0); Lowndes County, GA (79.7); Colquitt County, GA (71.9).

  • 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 Crisis 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). Cook County's score of 80.7 sits in the Crisis zone (86 and above).

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

    Cook 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 Cook County?

    Cook County, Georgia has a population of approximately 17,714 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.