Irwin County, Georgia

County Distress Index: Serious · 68.8 | 9,120 people · 83rd most distressed in Georgia
American Default Research

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Irwin County, GA shows significant household financial distress with a score of 68.8 — 445th 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 83rd of 159 counties. Among its 5 neighboring counties, 4 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Irwin County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 95.0 — worse than roughly 95% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 95.0
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 95
Consumer Credit Distress 89.1
Debt in Collections 85
Medical Debt 91
Auto Loan Delinquency 94
Credit Card Delinquency 95
Uninsured Rate 95
Subprime Credit Population 81
Economic Vitality 63.8
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 74
Rent-to-Income Ratio 78
Business Formation Rate 25
House Price Change (YoY) 41
Structural Poverty 55.8
Unemployment Rate 34
Poverty Rate 84
Income vs. State Median 60
Child Poverty Rate 90
Disability Rate 5
Transfer Income Dependency 58
Housing Cost Burden 26.8
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 25
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 17
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 11
Homeownership Rate 66

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Irwin County
Irwin County, GA 68.8 Serious —
Ben Hill County, GA 77.3 Serious +8.5
Turner County, GA 72.0 Serious +3.2
Coffee County, GA 71.1 Serious +2.3
Tift County, GA 70.2 Serious +1.4
Berrien County, GA 67.6 Serious -1.2

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Irwin County
Scott County, AR 68.7 Serious -0.1
Marion County, TX 68.7 Serious -0.1
McCulloch County, TX 68.7 Serious -0.1
Duval County, TX 68.7 Serious -0.1
Jefferson County, MS 69.0 Serious +0.2

Download Data

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

Find Help in Irwin 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 Irwin 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 Irwin County, Georgia?

    Irwin County has a County Distress Index score of 68.8 out of 100, placing it in the Serious zone. It ranks 445th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 83rd in Georgia out of 159 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Irwin County?

    The primary driver of distress in Irwin County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 95.0 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Irwin County compare to neighboring counties?

    Irwin County (68.8) can be compared to its 5 neighboring counties: Ben Hill County, GA (77.3); Turner County, GA (72.0); Coffee County, GA (71.1).

  • 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 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). Irwin County's score of 68.8 sits in the Serious zone (71–86).

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

    Irwin 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 Irwin County?

    Irwin County, Georgia has a population of approximately 9,120 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a tiny county.