Murray County, Georgia

County Distress Index: Serious · 67.2 | 41,035 people · 98th most distressed in Georgia
American Default Research

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Murray County, GA shows significant household financial distress with a score of 67.2 — 533rd 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 98th 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. Murray County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 96.9 — worse than roughly 97% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 96.9
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 97
Consumer Credit Distress 90.7
Debt in Collections 91
Medical Debt 99
Auto Loan Delinquency 87
Credit Card Delinquency 94
Uninsured Rate 84
Subprime Credit Population 88
Economic Vitality 53.6
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 64
Rent-to-Income Ratio 28
Business Formation Rate 76
House Price Change (YoY) 33
Structural Poverty 44.4
Unemployment Rate 38
Poverty Rate 57
Income vs. State Median 21
Child Poverty Rate 60
Disability Rate 27
Transfer Income Dependency 65
Housing Cost Burden 27.0
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 24
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 22
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 14
Homeownership Rate 56

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Murray County
Murray County, GA 67.2 Serious —
Bradley County, TN 66.3 Serious -0.9
Whitfield County, GA 64.1 Elevated -3.1
Gordon County, GA 62.3 Elevated -4.9
Polk County, TN 61.5 Elevated -5.7
Fannin County, GA 50.9 Elevated -16.4
Gilmer County, GA 46.5 Normal -20.8

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Murray County
Buckingham County, VA 67.3 Serious +0.1
De Soto Parish, LA 67.2 Serious -0.1
Covington County, AL 67.2 Serious -0.1
Calhoun County, MS 67.1 Serious -0.1
Mingo County, WV 67.1 Serious -0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Murray 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 Murray 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 Murray County, Georgia?

    Murray County has a County Distress Index score of 67.2 out of 100, placing it in the Serious zone. It ranks 533rd nationally out of 3,144 counties and 98th in Georgia out of 159 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Murray County?

    The primary driver of distress in Murray County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 96.9 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Murray County compare to neighboring counties?

    Murray County (67.2) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Bradley County, TN (66.3); Whitfield County, GA (64.1); Gordon County, GA (62.3).

  • 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). Murray County's score of 67.2 sits in the Serious zone (71–86).

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

    Murray 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 Murray County?

    Murray County, Georgia has a population of approximately 41,035 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.