Jones County, Georgia

County Distress Index: Elevated · 62.4 | 28,969 people · 121st most distressed in Georgia
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Jones County, GA registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 62.4 — 804th 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 121st 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. Jones County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 92.6 — worse than roughly 93% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 92.6
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 93
Economic Vitality 70.3
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 89
Rent-to-Income Ratio 74
Business Formation Rate 26
House Price Change (YoY) 51
Consumer Credit Distress 65.2
Debt in Collections 73
Medical Debt 73
Auto Loan Delinquency 40
Credit Card Delinquency 56
Uninsured Rate 47
Subprime Credit Population 87
Housing Cost Burden 59.4
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 64
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 84
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 42
Homeownership Rate 3
Structural Poverty 36.1
Unemployment Rate 34
Poverty Rate 43
Income vs. State Median 18
Child Poverty Rate 50
Disability Rate 44
Transfer Income Dependency 37

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Jones County
Jones County, GA 62.4 Elevated —
Bibb County, GA 88.7 Crisis +26.3
Baldwin County, GA 85.4 Crisis +22.9
Wilkinson County, GA 73.0 Serious +10.5
Twiggs County, GA 67.6 Serious +5.2
Putnam County, GA 65.3 Serious +2.9
Jasper County, GA 63.4 Elevated +0.9
Monroe County, GA 55.2 Elevated -7.3

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Jones County
Dale County, AL 62.4 Elevated -0.0
DeKalb County, TN 62.4 Elevated -0.0
Marion County, MS 62.5 Elevated +0.1
Robertson County, TX 62.5 Elevated +0.1
Hart County, GA 62.4 Elevated -0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Jones 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 Jones 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 Jones County, Georgia?

    Jones County has a County Distress Index score of 62.4 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 804th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 121st in Georgia out of 159 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Jones County?

    The primary driver of distress in Jones County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 92.6 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Jones County compare to neighboring counties?

    Jones County (62.4) can be compared to its 7 neighboring counties: Bibb County, GA (88.7); Baldwin County, GA (85.4); Wilkinson County, GA (73.0).

  • 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). Jones County's score of 62.4 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Jones 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 Jones County?

    Jones County, Georgia has a population of approximately 28,969 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.