Habersham County, Georgia

County Distress Index: Elevated · 55.6 | 48,757 people · 138th most distressed in Georgia
American Default Research

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Habersham County, GA registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 55.6 — 1230th 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 138th of 159 counties. Among its 7 neighboring counties, 5 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Habersham County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 68.8 — above the national median.

Legal Distress Primary driver 68.8
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 69
Consumer Credit Distress 60.5
Debt in Collections 55
Medical Debt 84
Auto Loan Delinquency 49
Credit Card Delinquency 47
Uninsured Rate 85
Subprime Credit Population 62
Housing Cost Burden 59.2
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 56
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 61
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 80
Homeownership Rate 49
Structural Poverty 37.7
Unemployment Rate 10
Poverty Rate 49
Income vs. State Median 10
Child Poverty Rate 45
Disability Rate 53
Transfer Income Dependency 58
Economic Vitality 37.3
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 50
Rent-to-Income Ratio 12
Business Formation Rate 44
House Price Change (YoY) 38

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Habersham County
Habersham County, GA 55.6 Elevated —
Stephens County, GA 73.4 Serious +17.8
Hall County, GA 62.8 Elevated +7.2
White County, GA 55.1 Elevated -0.5
Banks County, GA 54.4 Elevated -1.2
Rabun County, GA 49.1 Normal -6.5
Towns County, GA 48.0 Normal -7.6
Oconee County, SC 47.0 Normal -8.6

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Habersham County
McClain County, OK 55.6 Elevated +0.0
Moore County, TX 55.6 Elevated +0.0
Harrison County, OH 55.6 Elevated -0.0
Pulaski County, VA 55.6 Elevated -0.0
Labette County, KS 55.7 Elevated +0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Habersham 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 Habersham 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 Habersham County, Georgia?

    Habersham County has a County Distress Index score of 55.6 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 1,230th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 138th in Georgia out of 159 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Habersham County?

    The primary driver of distress in Habersham County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 68.8 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Habersham County compare to neighboring counties?

    Habersham County (55.6) can be compared to its 7 neighboring counties: Stephens County, GA (73.4); Hall County, GA (62.8); White County, GA (55.1).

  • 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). Habersham County's score of 55.6 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Habersham 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 Habersham County?

    Habersham County, Georgia has a population of approximately 48,757 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.