Muscogee County, Georgia

County Distress Index: Crisis · 82.1 | 201,877 people · 16th most distressed in Georgia
American Default Research

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Muscogee County, GA ranks among the most financially distressed counties in America with a score of 82.1 — 42nd 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 16th of 159 counties. Among its 5 neighboring counties, 4 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Muscogee County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 94.8 — worse than roughly 95% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 94.8
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 95
Consumer Credit Distress 92.0
Debt in Collections 99
Medical Debt 96
Auto Loan Delinquency 85
Credit Card Delinquency 95
Uninsured Rate 73
Subprime Credit Population 93
Housing Cost Burden 82.5
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 83
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 83
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 58
Homeownership Rate 99
Structural Poverty 65.7
Unemployment Rate 58
Poverty Rate 88
Income vs. State Median 61
Child Poverty Rate 81
Disability Rate 64
Transfer Income Dependency 50
Economic Vitality 43.4
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 36
Rent-to-Income Ratio 79
Business Formation Rate 13
House Price Change (YoY) 34

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Muscogee County
Muscogee County, GA 82.1 Crisis —
Russell County, AL 86.5 Crisis +4.4
Talbot County, GA 74.4 Serious -7.7
Lee County, AL 63.4 Elevated -18.6
Chattahoochee County, GA 58.1 Elevated -24.0
Harris County, GA 43.9 Normal -38.2

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Muscogee County
Portsmouth city, VA 81.9 Crisis -0.2
Troup County, GA 82.3 Crisis +0.2
Caddo Parish, LA 82.7 Crisis +0.6
Newton County, GA 82.7 Crisis +0.6
Hinds County, MS 83.6 Crisis +1.5

Download Data

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

Find Help in Muscogee County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Muscogee County.

COLUMBUS HOUSING INITIATIVE, INC. DBA NEIGHBORWORKS COLUMBUS
Columbus
706-324-4663 Website
Financial CounselingFinancial CounselingFair HousingPost-Purchase
URBAN LEAGUE OF GREATER COLUMBUS, INC
Columbus
706-322-6840
Foreclosure PreventionMortgage HelpFinancial CounselingFinancial Counseling

See all counselors in Georgia →

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 Muscogee 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 Muscogee County, Georgia?

    Muscogee County has a County Distress Index score of 82.1 out of 100, placing it in the Crisis zone. It ranks 42nd nationally out of 3,144 counties and 16th in Georgia out of 159 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Muscogee County?

    The primary driver of distress in Muscogee County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 94.8 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Muscogee County compare to neighboring counties?

    Muscogee County (82.1) can be compared to its 5 neighboring counties: Russell County, AL (86.5); Talbot County, GA (74.4); Lee County, AL (63.4).

  • 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 Crisis 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). Muscogee County's score of 82.1 sits in the Crisis zone (86 and above).

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

    Muscogee 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 Muscogee County?

    Muscogee County, Georgia has a population of approximately 201,877 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.