Jasper County, Georgia

County Distress Index: Elevated · 63.4 | 16,455 people · 118th most distressed in Georgia
American Default Research

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Jasper County, GA registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 63.4 — 755th 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 118th of 159 counties. Its score is in the middle of its 6 neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Jasper County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 89.5 — worse than roughly 90% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 89.5
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 90
Economic Vitality 79.0
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 95
Rent-to-Income Ratio 95
Business Formation Rate 14
House Price Change (YoY) 76
Consumer Credit Distress 73.7
Debt in Collections 74
Medical Debt 78
Auto Loan Delinquency 54
Credit Card Delinquency 79
Uninsured Rate 72
Subprime Credit Population 83
Structural Poverty 41.1
Unemployment Rate 27
Poverty Rate 60
Income vs. State Median 14
Child Poverty Rate 66
Disability Rate 52
Transfer Income Dependency 40
Housing Cost Burden 39.8
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 38
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 47
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 71
Homeownership Rate 5

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Jasper County
Jasper County, GA 63.4 Elevated —
Newton County, GA 82.7 Crisis +19.3
Butts County, GA 77.7 Serious +14.3
Putnam County, GA 65.3 Serious +2.0
Jones County, GA 62.4 Elevated -0.9
Monroe County, GA 55.2 Elevated -8.2
Morgan County, GA 52.6 Elevated -10.7

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Jasper County
Lamar County, GA 63.4 Elevated +0.0
Saline County, MO 63.4 Elevated +0.0
Knott County, KY 63.3 Elevated -0.0
Clarke County, AL 63.3 Elevated -0.1
Lincoln County, WV 63.5 Elevated +0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Jasper 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 Jasper 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

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Frequently Asked Questions

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

    Jasper County has a County Distress Index score of 63.4 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 755th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 118th in Georgia out of 159 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Jasper County?

    The primary driver of distress in Jasper County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 89.5 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Jasper County compare to neighboring counties?

    Jasper County (63.4) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Newton County, GA (82.7); Butts County, GA (77.7); Putnam County, GA (65.3).

  • 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). Jasper County's score of 63.4 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Jasper 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 Jasper County?

    Jasper County, Georgia has a population of approximately 16,455 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.