Lincoln County, Georgia

County Distress Index: Elevated · 63.7 | 7,879 people · 114th most distressed in Georgia
American Default Research

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Lincoln County, GA registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 63.7 — 724th 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 114th of 159 counties. Among its 5 neighboring counties, 3 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Lincoln County's primary driver is Consumer Credit Distress at 79.0 — worse than roughly 79% of U.S. counties.

Consumer Credit Distress Primary driver 79.0
Debt in Collections 70
Medical Debt 71
Auto Loan Delinquency 92
Credit Card Delinquency 91
Uninsured Rate 81
Subprime Credit Population 73
Legal Distress 64.8
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 65
Structural Poverty 63.0
Unemployment Rate 58
Poverty Rate 62
Income vs. State Median 35
Child Poverty Rate 74
Disability Rate 78
Transfer Income Dependency 77
Economic Vitality 48.6
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 73
Rent-to-Income Ratio 44
Business Formation Rate 14
House Price Change (YoY) 5
Housing Cost Burden 37.4
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 56
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 15
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 71
Homeownership Rate 23

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Lincoln County
Lincoln County, GA 63.7 Elevated —
McDuffie County, GA 81.5 Crisis +17.8
Elbert County, GA 74.6 Serious +10.9
Wilkes County, GA 66.8 Serious +3.1
Columbia County, GA 48.0 Normal -15.7
McCormick County, SC 46.7 Normal -17.0

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Lincoln County
Gallatin County, KY 63.6 Elevated -0.1
Issaquena County, MS 63.8 Elevated +0.1
Delta County, TX 63.8 Elevated +0.1
Haskell County, TX 63.5 Elevated -0.2
Cleveland County, AR 63.5 Elevated -0.2

Download Data

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

Find Help in Lincoln 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 Lincoln 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 Lincoln County, Georgia?

    Lincoln County has a County Distress Index score of 63.7 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 724th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 114th in Georgia out of 159 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Lincoln County?

    The primary driver of distress in Lincoln County is Consumer Credit Distress, where the county scores 79.0 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Debt in Collections, Medical Debt, Auto Loan Delinquency.

  • How does Lincoln County compare to neighboring counties?

    Lincoln County (63.7) can be compared to its 5 neighboring counties: McDuffie County, GA (81.5); Elbert County, GA (74.6); Wilkes County, GA (66.8).

  • 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). Lincoln County's score of 63.7 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Lincoln 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 Lincoln County?

    Lincoln County, Georgia has a population of approximately 7,879 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a tiny county.