Oglethorpe County, Georgia

County Distress Index: Elevated · 61.1 | 15,754 people · 128th most distressed in Georgia
American Default Research

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Oglethorpe County, GA registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 61.1 — 876th 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 128th of 159 counties. Among its 7 neighboring counties, 5 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Oglethorpe County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 80.3 — worse than roughly 80% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 80.3
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 80
Economic Vitality 73.2
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 91
Rent-to-Income Ratio 72
Business Formation Rate 19
House Price Change (YoY) 91
Consumer Credit Distress 67.8
Debt in Collections 80
Medical Debt 72
Auto Loan Delinquency 51
Credit Card Delinquency 61
Uninsured Rate 78
Subprime Credit Population 69
Housing Cost Burden 52.6
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 86
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 39
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 46
Homeownership Rate 12
Structural Poverty 33.4
Unemployment Rate 10
Poverty Rate 47
Income vs. State Median 15
Child Poverty Rate 60
Disability Rate 47
Transfer Income Dependency 30

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Oglethorpe County
Oglethorpe County, GA 61.1 Elevated —
Elbert County, GA 74.6 Serious +13.4
Clarke County, GA 73.6 Serious +12.4
Taliaferro County, GA 70.4 Serious +9.2
Wilkes County, GA 66.8 Serious +5.6
Madison County, GA 61.8 Elevated +0.6
Greene County, GA 48.1 Normal -13.0
Oconee County, GA 18.6 Healthy -42.6

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Oglethorpe County
Randolph County, WV 61.1 Elevated -0.0
Howell County, MO 61.2 Elevated +0.0
Newton County, TX 61.2 Elevated +0.0
Tazewell County, VA 61.2 Elevated +0.0
Grant Parish, LA 61.1 Elevated -0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Oglethorpe 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 Oglethorpe 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 Oglethorpe County, Georgia?

    Oglethorpe County has a County Distress Index score of 61.1 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 876th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 128th in Georgia out of 159 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Oglethorpe County?

    The primary driver of distress in Oglethorpe County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 80.3 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Oglethorpe County compare to neighboring counties?

    Oglethorpe County (61.1) can be compared to its 7 neighboring counties: Elbert County, GA (74.6); Clarke County, GA (73.6); Taliaferro County, GA (70.4).

  • 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 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). Oglethorpe County's score of 61.1 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Oglethorpe 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 Oglethorpe County?

    Oglethorpe County, Georgia has a population of approximately 15,754 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.