Douglas County, Georgia

County Distress Index: Serious · 78.0 | 149,160 people · 33rd most distressed in Georgia
American Default Research

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Douglas County, GA shows significant household financial distress with a score of 78.0 — 106th 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 33rd of 159 counties. It scores higher than all 4 of its neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Douglas County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 98.8 — worse than roughly 99% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 98.8
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 99
Consumer Credit Distress 93.2
Debt in Collections 94
Medical Debt 89
Auto Loan Delinquency 94
Credit Card Delinquency 97
Uninsured Rate 77
Subprime Credit Population 97
Economic Vitality 76.7
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 95
Rent-to-Income Ratio 90
Business Formation Rate 1
House Price Change (YoY) 93
Housing Cost Burden 69.1
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 78
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 54
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 72
Homeownership Rate 81
Structural Poverty 28.6
Unemployment Rate 49
Poverty Rate 37
Income vs. State Median 5
Child Poverty Rate 50
Disability Rate 12
Transfer Income Dependency 32

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Douglas County
Douglas County, GA 78.0 Serious —
Carroll County, GA 76.9 Serious -1.0
Fulton County, GA 68.0 Serious -10.0
Paulding County, GA 63.4 Elevated -14.6
Cobb County, GA 61.0 Elevated -16.9

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Douglas County
Christian County, KY 77.9 Serious -0.0
Tangipahoa Parish, LA 77.8 Serious -0.1
Ouachita Parish, LA 77.5 Serious -0.4
Darlington County, SC 77.4 Serious -0.5
Norfolk city, VA 77.3 Serious -0.7

Download Data

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

Find Help in Douglas 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 Douglas 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 Douglas County, Georgia?

    Douglas County has a County Distress Index score of 78.0 out of 100, placing it in the Serious zone. It ranks 106th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 33rd in Georgia out of 159 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Douglas County?

    The primary driver of distress in Douglas County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 98.8 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Douglas County compare to neighboring counties?

    Douglas County (78.0) can be compared to its 4 neighboring counties: Carroll County, GA (76.9); Fulton County, GA (68.0); Paulding County, GA (63.4).

  • 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). Douglas County's score of 78.0 sits in the Serious zone (71–86).

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

    Douglas 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 Douglas County?

    Douglas County, Georgia has a population of approximately 149,160 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.