Franklin County, Georgia

County Distress Index: Elevated · 64.1 | 24,782 people · 111th most distressed in Georgia
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Franklin County, GA registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 64.1 — 700th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Consumer Credit Distress, where residents carry heavy debt burdens with elevated delinquency and collections rates. Within Georgia, it ranks 111th 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. Franklin County's primary driver is Consumer Credit Distress at 86.4 — worse than roughly 86% of U.S. counties.

Consumer Credit Distress Primary driver 86.4
Debt in Collections 85
Medical Debt 94
Auto Loan Delinquency 90
Credit Card Delinquency 85
Uninsured Rate 95
Subprime Credit Population 78
Structural Poverty 60.2
Unemployment Rate 27
Poverty Rate 72
Income vs. State Median 58
Child Poverty Rate 76
Disability Rate 63
Transfer Income Dependency 61
Legal Distress 58.4
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 58
Economic Vitality 53.1
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 60
Rent-to-Income Ratio 67
Business Formation Rate 33
House Price Change (YoY) 17
Housing Cost Burden 25.4
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 15
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 23
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 47
Homeownership Rate 41

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Franklin County
Franklin County, GA 64.1 Elevated —
Stephens County, GA 73.4 Serious +9.3
Hart County, GA 62.4 Elevated -1.7
Madison County, GA 61.8 Elevated -2.4
Banks County, GA 54.4 Elevated -9.7
Oconee County, SC 47.0 Normal -17.1

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Franklin County
McCurtain County, OK 64.1 Elevated -0.0
Caroline County, MD 64.1 Elevated -0.0
Waynesboro city, VA 64.1 Elevated -0.0
DeWitt County, TX 64.2 Elevated +0.0
Henry County, KY 64.0 Elevated -0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Franklin 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 Franklin 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 Franklin County, Georgia?

    Franklin County has a County Distress Index score of 64.1 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 700th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 111th in Georgia out of 159 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Franklin County?

    The primary driver of distress in Franklin County is Consumer Credit Distress, where the county scores 86.4 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Debt in Collections, Medical Debt, Auto Loan Delinquency.

  • How does Franklin County compare to neighboring counties?

    Franklin County (64.1) can be compared to its 5 neighboring counties: Stephens County, GA (73.4); Hart County, GA (62.4); Madison County, GA (61.8).

  • 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). Franklin County's score of 64.1 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Franklin 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 Franklin County?

    Franklin County, Georgia has a population of approximately 24,782 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.