Monroe County, Georgia

County Distress Index: Elevated · 55.2 | 30,625 people · 141st most distressed in Georgia
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Monroe County, GA registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 55.2 — 1260th 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 141st of 159 counties. It scores lower than all 7 of its neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Monroe County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 85.8 — worse than roughly 86% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 85.8
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 86
Consumer Credit Distress 76.9
Debt in Collections 71
Medical Debt 88
Auto Loan Delinquency 81
Credit Card Delinquency 79
Uninsured Rate 68
Subprime Credit Population 74
Economic Vitality 37.0
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 56
Rent-to-Income Ratio 15
Business Formation Rate 11
House Price Change (YoY) 57
Structural Poverty 24.8
Unemployment Rate 19
Poverty Rate 35
Income vs. State Median 5
Child Poverty Rate 38
Disability Rate 42
Transfer Income Dependency 21
Housing Cost Burden 24.6
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 23
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 35
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 22
Homeownership Rate 7

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Monroe County
Monroe County, GA 55.2 Elevated —
Bibb County, GA 88.7 Crisis +33.5
Upson County, GA 79.6 Serious +24.4
Butts County, GA 77.7 Serious +22.5
Crawford County, GA 67.8 Serious +12.7
Lamar County, GA 63.4 Elevated +8.2
Jasper County, GA 63.4 Elevated +8.2
Jones County, GA 62.4 Elevated +7.3

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Monroe County
Gilchrist County, FL 55.1 Elevated -0.0
Caroline County, VA 55.2 Elevated +0.0
Benton County, TN 55.1 Elevated -0.0
Shelby County, IN 55.1 Elevated -0.0
White County, GA 55.1 Elevated -0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Monroe 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 Monroe 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 Monroe County, Georgia?

    Monroe County has a County Distress Index score of 55.2 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 1,260th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 141st in Georgia out of 159 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Monroe County?

    The primary driver of distress in Monroe County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 85.8 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Monroe County compare to neighboring counties?

    Monroe County (55.2) can be compared to its 7 neighboring counties: Bibb County, GA (88.7); Upson County, GA (79.6); Butts County, GA (77.7).

  • 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). Monroe County's score of 55.2 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Monroe 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 Monroe County?

    Monroe County, Georgia has a population of approximately 30,625 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.