Marion County, Georgia

County Distress Index: Serious · 71.9 | 7,440 people · 70th most distressed in Georgia
American Default Research

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Marion County, GA shows significant household financial distress with a score of 71.9 — 324th 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 70th of 159 counties. Among its 7 neighboring counties, 4 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Marion County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 89.0 — worse than roughly 89% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 89.0
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 89
Consumer Credit Distress 88.1
Debt in Collections 90
Medical Debt 70
Auto Loan Delinquency 85
Credit Card Delinquency 95
Uninsured Rate 93
Subprime Credit Population 94
Structural Poverty 76.7
Unemployment Rate 23
Poverty Rate 94
Income vs. State Median 66
Child Poverty Rate 95
Disability Rate 89
Transfer Income Dependency 86
Economic Vitality 69.7
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 86
Rent-to-Income Ratio 82
Business Formation Rate 12
House Price Change (YoY) 59
Housing Cost Burden 29.4
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 20
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 26
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 67
Homeownership Rate 35

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Marion County
Marion County, GA 71.9 Serious —
Sumter County, GA 80.0 Crisis +8.2
Taylor County, GA 80.0 Crisis +8.2
Talbot County, GA 74.4 Serious +2.5
Stewart County, GA 66.9 Serious -5.0
Webster County, GA 62.0 Elevated -9.9
Chattahoochee County, GA 58.1 Elevated -13.8
Schley County, GA 57.6 Elevated -14.3

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Marion County
Calhoun County, GA 71.9 Serious +0.0
Lake County, TN 71.8 Serious -0.0
Turner County, GA 72.0 Serious +0.1
Dallas County, AR 72.3 Serious +0.4
Tensas Parish, LA 71.2 Serious -0.7

Download Data

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

Find Help in Marion 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 Marion 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 Marion County, Georgia?

    Marion County has a County Distress Index score of 71.9 out of 100, placing it in the Serious zone. It ranks 324th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 70th in Georgia out of 159 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Marion County?

    The primary driver of distress in Marion County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 89.0 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Marion County compare to neighboring counties?

    Marion County (71.9) can be compared to its 7 neighboring counties: Sumter County, GA (80.0); Taylor County, GA (80.0); Talbot County, GA (74.4).

  • 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). Marion County's score of 71.9 sits in the Serious zone (71–86).

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

    Marion 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 Marion County?

    Marion County, Georgia has a population of approximately 7,440 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a tiny county.