Houston County, Georgia

County Distress Index: Serious · 68.6 | 171,974 people · 84th most distressed in Georgia
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Houston County, GA shows significant household financial distress with a score of 68.6 — 455th 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 84th 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. Houston County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 89.8 — worse than roughly 90% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 89.8
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 90
Consumer Credit Distress 77.3
Debt in Collections 82
Medical Debt 86
Auto Loan Delinquency 66
Credit Card Delinquency 73
Uninsured Rate 70
Subprime Credit Population 83
Housing Cost Burden 74.3
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 80
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 67
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 71
Homeownership Rate 80
Economic Vitality 52.8
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 72
Rent-to-Income Ratio 56
Business Formation Rate 11
House Price Change (YoY) 24
Structural Poverty 28.1
Unemployment Rate 13
Poverty Rate 44
Income vs. State Median 8
Child Poverty Rate 50
Disability Rate 24
Transfer Income Dependency 35

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Houston County
Houston County, GA 68.6 Serious —
Bibb County, GA 88.7 Crisis +20.1
Pulaski County, GA 75.5 Serious +6.9
Peach County, GA 75.5 Serious +6.9
Macon County, GA 73.4 Serious +4.8
Bleckley County, GA 71.6 Serious +3.0
Crawford County, GA 67.8 Serious -0.8
Twiggs County, GA 67.6 Serious -1.0
Dooly County, GA 64.7 Elevated -3.9

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Houston County
Delaware County, IN 68.6 Serious -0.0
Ellis County, TX 68.6 Serious -0.0
Grayson County, TX 68.6 Serious +0.0
Montgomery County, TN 68.5 Serious -0.1
St. Martin Parish, LA 68.5 Serious -0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Houston 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 Houston 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.

Need legal help? Find a foreclosure defense attorney in Georgia →

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the distress score for Houston County, Georgia?

    Houston County has a County Distress Index score of 68.6 out of 100, placing it in the Serious zone. It ranks 455th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 84th in Georgia out of 159 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Houston County?

    The primary driver of distress in Houston County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 89.8 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Houston County compare to neighboring counties?

    Houston County (68.6) can be compared to its 8 neighboring counties: Bibb County, GA (88.7); Pulaski County, GA (75.5); Peach County, GA (75.5).

  • 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). Houston County's score of 68.6 sits in the Serious zone (71–86).

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

    Houston 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 Houston County?

    Houston County, Georgia has a population of approximately 171,974 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.