Gordon County, Georgia

County Distress Index: Elevated · 62.3 | 59,757 people · 124th most distressed in Georgia
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Gordon County, GA registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 62.3 — 812th 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 124th of 159 counties. Among its 8 neighboring counties, 5 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Gordon County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 87.4 — worse than roughly 87% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 87.4
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 87
Consumer Credit Distress 82.0
Debt in Collections 82
Medical Debt 95
Auto Loan Delinquency 70
Credit Card Delinquency 82
Uninsured Rate 88
Subprime Credit Population 81
Housing Cost Burden 48.3
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 58
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 28
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 68
Homeownership Rate 59
Structural Poverty 30.9
Unemployment Rate 19
Poverty Rate 45
Income vs. State Median 19
Child Poverty Rate 43
Disability Rate 28
Transfer Income Dependency 35
Economic Vitality 21.2
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 15
Rent-to-Income Ratio 25
Business Formation Rate 35
House Price Change (YoY) 14

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Gordon County
Gordon County, GA 62.3 Elevated —
Floyd County, GA 77.0 Serious +14.7
Walker County, GA 73.4 Serious +11.1
Bartow County, GA 67.4 Serious +5.0
Murray County, GA 67.2 Serious +4.9
Whitfield County, GA 64.1 Elevated +1.8
Pickens County, GA 57.8 Elevated -4.6
Cherokee County, GA 47.3 Normal -15.0
Gilmer County, GA 46.5 Normal -15.9

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Gordon County
Lafayette Parish, LA 62.3 Elevated -0.0
Tipton County, TN 62.2 Elevated -0.1
Randolph County, NC 62.5 Elevated +0.2
Craven County, NC 62.6 Elevated +0.2
Walker County, AL 62.6 Elevated +0.3

Download Data

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

Find Help in Gordon 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 Gordon 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 Gordon County, Georgia?

    Gordon County has a County Distress Index score of 62.3 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 812th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 124th in Georgia out of 159 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Gordon County?

    The primary driver of distress in Gordon County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 87.4 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Gordon County compare to neighboring counties?

    Gordon County (62.3) can be compared to its 8 neighboring counties: Floyd County, GA (77.0); Walker County, GA (73.4); 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). Gordon County's score of 62.3 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Gordon 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 Gordon County?

    Gordon County, Georgia has a population of approximately 59,757 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.