Miller County, Georgia

County Distress Index: Serious · 73.4 | 5,747 people · 59th most distressed in Georgia
American Default Research

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Miller County, GA shows significant household financial distress with a score of 73.4 — 251st 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 59th of 159 counties. Its score is in the middle of its 4 neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Miller County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 90.5 — worse than roughly 91% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 90.5
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 91
Consumer Credit Distress 84.2
Debt in Collections 78
Medical Debt 55
Auto Loan Delinquency 95
Credit Card Delinquency 91
Uninsured Rate 89
Subprime Credit Population 93
Structural Poverty 69.3
Unemployment Rate 16
Poverty Rate 89
Income vs. State Median 68
Child Poverty Rate 92
Disability Rate 59
Transfer Income Dependency 80
Housing Cost Burden 61.4
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 53
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 70
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 39
Homeownership Rate 77
Economic Vitality 39.5
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 24
Rent-to-Income Ratio 67
Business Formation Rate 15
House Price Change (YoY) 84

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Miller County
Miller County, GA 73.4 Serious —
Decatur County, GA 78.7 Serious +5.3
Early County, GA 77.9 Serious +4.5
Baker County, GA 69.3 Serious -4.2
Seminole County, GA 67.1 Serious -6.3

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Miller County
Caldwell Parish, LA 73.3 Serious -0.1
Jim Hogg County, TX 73.6 Serious +0.2
Emporia city, VA 73.8 Serious +0.4
Wilkinson County, GA 73.0 Serious -0.4
Greene County, AL 72.9 Serious -0.5

Download Data

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

Find Help in Miller 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 Miller 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 Miller County, Georgia?

    Miller County has a County Distress Index score of 73.4 out of 100, placing it in the Serious zone. It ranks 251st nationally out of 3,144 counties and 59th in Georgia out of 159 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Miller County?

    The primary driver of distress in Miller County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 90.5 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Miller County compare to neighboring counties?

    Miller County (73.4) can be compared to its 4 neighboring counties: Decatur County, GA (78.7); Early County, GA (77.9); Baker County, GA (69.3).

  • 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 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). Miller County's score of 73.4 sits in the Serious zone (71–86).

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

    Miller 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 Miller County?

    Miller County, Georgia has a population of approximately 5,747 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a tiny county.