Paulding County, Georgia

County Distress Index: Elevated · 63.4 | 183,164 people · 116th most distressed in Georgia
American Default Research

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Paulding County, GA registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 63.4 — 751st 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 116th of 159 counties. Among its 6 neighboring counties, 5 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Paulding County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 89.1 — worse than roughly 89% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 89.1
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 89
Consumer Credit Distress 79.6
Debt in Collections 81
Medical Debt 86
Auto Loan Delinquency 67
Credit Card Delinquency 86
Uninsured Rate 67
Subprime Credit Population 84
Economic Vitality 72.8
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 99
Rent-to-Income Ratio 69
Business Formation Rate 4
House Price Change (YoY) 87
Housing Cost Burden 48.3
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 49
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 49
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 91
Homeownership Rate 18
Structural Poverty 11.1
Unemployment Rate 30
Poverty Rate 6
Income vs. State Median 1
Child Poverty Rate 13
Disability Rate 13
Transfer Income Dependency 10

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Paulding County
Paulding County, GA 63.4 Elevated —
Polk County, GA 80.3 Crisis +16.9
Douglas County, GA 78.0 Serious +14.6
Carroll County, GA 76.9 Serious +13.5
Bartow County, GA 67.4 Serious +4.0
Haralson County, GA 65.0 Elevated +1.6
Cobb County, GA 61.0 Elevated -2.4

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Paulding County
Lee County, AL 63.4 Elevated +0.0
Madera County, CA 63.4 Elevated +0.0
Taney County, MO 63.4 Elevated +0.0
Suffolk city, VA 63.4 Elevated +0.0
Greenwood County, SC 63.4 Elevated -0.0

Download Data

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

Find Help in Paulding 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 Paulding 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 Paulding County, Georgia?

    Paulding County has a County Distress Index score of 63.4 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 751st nationally out of 3,144 counties and 116th in Georgia out of 159 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Paulding County?

    The primary driver of distress in Paulding County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 89.1 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Paulding County compare to neighboring counties?

    Paulding County (63.4) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Polk County, GA (80.3); Douglas County, GA (78.0); Carroll County, GA (76.9).

  • 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). Paulding County's score of 63.4 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Paulding 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 Paulding County?

    Paulding County, Georgia has a population of approximately 183,164 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.