Hart County, Georgia

County Distress Index: Elevated · 62.4 | 27,556 people · 123rd most distressed in Georgia
American Default Research

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Hart County, GA registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 62.4 — 811th 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 123rd of 159 counties. Among its 5 neighboring counties, 3 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Hart County's primary driver is Consumer Credit Distress at 77.7 — worse than roughly 78% of U.S. counties.

Consumer Credit Distress Primary driver 77.7
Debt in Collections 72
Medical Debt 93
Auto Loan Delinquency 85
Credit Card Delinquency 72
Uninsured Rate 83
Subprime Credit Population 70
Structural Poverty 58.5
Unemployment Rate 30
Poverty Rate 61
Income vs. State Median 59
Child Poverty Rate 66
Disability Rate 71
Transfer Income Dependency 60
Economic Vitality 51.6
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 52
Rent-to-Income Ratio 71
Business Formation Rate 31
House Price Change (YoY) 31
Legal Distress 50.4
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 50
Housing Cost Burden 40.5
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 58
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 23
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 30
Homeownership Rate 46

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Hart County
Hart County, GA 62.4 Elevated —
Elbert County, GA 74.6 Serious +12.2
Franklin County, GA 64.1 Elevated +1.7
Madison County, GA 61.8 Elevated -0.6
Anderson County, SC 57.8 Elevated -4.6
Oconee County, SC 47.0 Normal -15.4

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Hart County
Dale County, AL 62.4 Elevated +0.0
DeKalb County, TN 62.4 Elevated +0.0
Del Norte County, CA 62.3 Elevated -0.0
Jones County, GA 62.4 Elevated +0.1
Unicoi County, TN 62.3 Elevated -0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Hart 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 Hart 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 Hart County, Georgia?

    Hart County has a County Distress Index score of 62.4 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 811th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 123rd in Georgia out of 159 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Hart County?

    The primary driver of distress in Hart County is Consumer Credit Distress, where the county scores 77.7 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Debt in Collections, Medical Debt, Auto Loan Delinquency.

  • How does Hart County compare to neighboring counties?

    Hart County (62.4) can be compared to its 5 neighboring counties: Elbert County, GA (74.6); Franklin County, GA (64.1); 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). Hart County's score of 62.4 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Hart 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 Hart County?

    Hart County, Georgia has a population of approximately 27,556 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.