Jackson County, Georgia

County Distress Index: Elevated · 51.4 | 88,615 people · 148th most distressed in Georgia
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Jackson County, GA registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 51.4 — 1490th 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 148th of 159 counties. Among its 7 neighboring counties, 6 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Jackson County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 90.7 — worse than roughly 91% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 90.7
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 91
Consumer Credit Distress 61.4
Debt in Collections 57
Medical Debt 73
Auto Loan Delinquency 48
Credit Card Delinquency 60
Uninsured Rate 77
Subprime Credit Population 65
Housing Cost Burden 44.3
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 42
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 47
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 80
Homeownership Rate 20
Economic Vitality 39.4
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 68
Rent-to-Income Ratio 8
Business Formation Rate 10
House Price Change (YoY) 48
Structural Poverty 14.9
Unemployment Rate 13
Poverty Rate 9
Income vs. State Median 3
Child Poverty Rate 9
Disability Rate 37
Transfer Income Dependency 20

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Jackson County
Jackson County, GA 51.4 Elevated —
Clarke County, GA 73.6 Serious +22.2
Gwinnett County, GA 68.5 Serious +17.1
Barrow County, GA 68.1 Serious +16.7
Hall County, GA 62.8 Elevated +11.4
Madison County, GA 61.8 Elevated +10.4
Banks County, GA 54.4 Elevated +3.0
Oconee County, GA 18.6 Healthy -32.8

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Jackson County
Natrona County, WY 51.4 Elevated +0.0
Black Hawk County, IA 51.4 Elevated -0.0
Pottawattamie County, IA 51.5 Elevated +0.1
Washington County, NY 51.3 Elevated -0.1
Reno County, KS 51.3 Elevated -0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Jackson 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 Jackson 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 Jackson County, Georgia?

    Jackson County has a County Distress Index score of 51.4 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 1,490th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 148th in Georgia out of 159 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Jackson County?

    The primary driver of distress in Jackson County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 90.7 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Jackson County compare to neighboring counties?

    Jackson County (51.4) can be compared to its 7 neighboring counties: Clarke County, GA (73.6); Gwinnett County, GA (68.5); Barrow County, GA (68.1).

  • 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). Jackson County's score of 51.4 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Jackson 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 Jackson County?

    Jackson County, Georgia has a population of approximately 88,615 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.