Dougherty County, Georgia

County Distress Index: Crisis · 87.3 | 82,645 people · 5th most distressed in Georgia
American Default Research

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Dougherty County, GA ranks among the most financially distressed counties in America with a score of 87.3 — 7th 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 5th of 159 counties. Among its 6 neighboring counties, 5 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Dougherty County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 97.2 — worse than roughly 97% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 97.2
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 97
Consumer Credit Distress 90.8
Debt in Collections 99
Medical Debt 53
Auto Loan Delinquency 96
Credit Card Delinquency 99
Uninsured Rate 85
Subprime Credit Population 99
Housing Cost Burden 90.6
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 91
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 97
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 53
Homeownership Rate 99
Structural Poverty 85.8
Unemployment Rate 80
Poverty Rate 97
Income vs. State Median 86
Child Poverty Rate 97
Disability Rate 74
Transfer Income Dependency 83
Economic Vitality 55.4
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 50
Rent-to-Income Ratio 95
Business Formation Rate 4
House Price Change (YoY) 61

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Dougherty County
Dougherty County, GA 87.3 Crisis —
Mitchell County, GA 87.7 Crisis +0.4
Worth County, GA 76.7 Serious -10.5
Terrell County, GA 75.6 Serious -11.7
Calhoun County, GA 71.9 Serious -15.4
Baker County, GA 69.3 Serious -18.0
Lee County, GA 63.5 Elevated -23.8

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Dougherty County
Russell County, AL 86.5 Crisis -0.8
Bibb County, GA 88.7 Crisis +1.4
Richmond County, GA 89.2 Crisis +1.9
Spalding County, GA 85.1 Crisis -2.1
Rockdale County, GA 84.4 Crisis -2.9

Download Data

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

Find Help in Dougherty County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Dougherty County.

CITY OF ALBANY, GEORGIA
Albany
229-483-7650
Foreclosure PreventionFinancial CounselingHomeless/DisplacementPost-Purchase
NID-HCA ALBANY (FLETCHER)
ALBANY
229-317-4745 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 Dougherty 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 Dougherty County, Georgia?

    Dougherty County has a County Distress Index score of 87.3 out of 100, placing it in the Crisis zone. It ranks 7th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 5th in Georgia out of 159 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Dougherty County?

    The primary driver of distress in Dougherty County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 97.2 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Dougherty County compare to neighboring counties?

    Dougherty County (87.3) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Mitchell County, GA (87.7); Worth County, GA (76.7); Terrell County, GA (75.6).

  • 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). Dougherty County's score of 87.3 sits in the Crisis zone (86 and above).

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

    Dougherty 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 Dougherty County?

    Dougherty County, Georgia has a population of approximately 82,645 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.