Liberty County, Georgia

County Distress Index: Serious · 79.0 | 69,210 people · 26th most distressed in Georgia
American Default Research

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Liberty County, GA shows significant household financial distress with a score of 79.0 — 82nd nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Consumer Credit Distress, where residents carry heavy debt burdens with elevated delinquency and collections rates. Within Georgia, it ranks 26th of 159 counties. It scores higher than all 6 of its neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Liberty County's primary driver is Consumer Credit Distress at 91.9 — worse than roughly 92% of U.S. counties.

Consumer Credit Distress Primary driver 91.9
Debt in Collections 97
Medical Debt 97
Auto Loan Delinquency 78
Credit Card Delinquency 97
Uninsured Rate 69
Subprime Credit Population 99
Legal Distress 88.3
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 88
Economic Vitality 70.8
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 87
Rent-to-Income Ratio 94
Business Formation Rate 14
House Price Change (YoY) 26
Housing Cost Burden 66.7
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 76
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 42
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 73
Homeownership Rate 99
Structural Poverty 54.9
Unemployment Rate 52
Poverty Rate 69
Income vs. State Median 38
Child Poverty Rate 68
Disability Rate 50
Transfer Income Dependency 58

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Liberty County
Liberty County, GA 79.0 Serious —
Chatham County, GA 79.0 Serious -0.0
McIntosh County, GA 74.3 Serious -4.8
Long County, GA 73.2 Serious -5.8
Evans County, GA 72.6 Serious -6.4
Tattnall County, GA 66.2 Serious -12.8
Bryan County, GA 55.9 Elevated -23.1

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Liberty County
Cumberland County, NJ 78.8 Serious -0.2
Orangeburg County, SC 78.7 Serious -0.3
Robeson County, NC 79.6 Serious +0.6
Lowndes County, GA 79.7 Serious +0.6
Douglas County, GA 78.0 Serious -1.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Liberty County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Liberty County.

JCVISION AND ASSOCIATES, INC
Hinesville
912-877-4243 Website
Foreclosure PreventionFinancial CounselingFinancial CounselingFair Housing

See all counselors in Georgia →

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 Liberty 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 Liberty County, Georgia?

    Liberty County has a County Distress Index score of 79.0 out of 100, placing it in the Serious zone. It ranks 82nd nationally out of 3,144 counties and 26th in Georgia out of 159 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Liberty County?

    The primary driver of distress in Liberty County is Consumer Credit Distress, where the county scores 91.9 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Debt in Collections, Medical Debt, Auto Loan Delinquency.

  • How does Liberty County compare to neighboring counties?

    Liberty County (79.0) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Chatham County, GA (79.0); McIntosh County, GA (74.3); Long County, GA (73.2).

  • 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). Liberty County's score of 79.0 sits in the Serious zone (71–86).

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

    Liberty 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 Liberty County?

    Liberty County, Georgia has a population of approximately 69,210 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.