Pierce County, Georgia

County Distress Index: Elevated · 64.7 | 20,425 people · 110th most distressed in Georgia
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Pierce County, GA registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 64.7 — 660th 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 110th of 159 counties. Among its 5 neighboring counties, 4 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Pierce County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 95.4 — worse than roughly 95% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 95.4
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 95
Consumer Credit Distress 81.1
Debt in Collections 80
Medical Debt 94
Auto Loan Delinquency 74
Credit Card Delinquency 81
Uninsured Rate 87
Subprime Credit Population 77
Economic Vitality 63.8
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 69
Rent-to-Income Ratio 60
Business Formation Rate 41
House Price Change (YoY) 95
Structural Poverty 54.6
Unemployment Rate 38
Poverty Rate 69
Income vs. State Median 43
Child Poverty Rate 68
Disability Rate 26
Transfer Income Dependency 77
Housing Cost Burden 25.9
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 28
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 17
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 47
Homeownership Rate 29

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Pierce County
Pierce County, GA 64.7 Elevated —
Ware County, GA 83.4 Crisis +18.8
Wayne County, GA 74.5 Serious +9.9
Bacon County, GA 68.1 Serious +3.4
Brantley County, GA 67.0 Serious +2.3
Appling County, GA 62.3 Elevated -2.4

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Pierce County
Morgan County, KY 64.7 Elevated 0.0
Wharton County, TX 64.7 Elevated 0.0
Adair County, KY 64.7 Elevated +0.0
Hill County, TX 64.7 Elevated +0.0
Montgomery County, NY 64.6 Elevated -0.0

Download Data

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

Find Help in Pierce 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 Pierce 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 Pierce County, Georgia?

    Pierce County has a County Distress Index score of 64.7 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 660th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 110th in Georgia out of 159 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Pierce County?

    The primary driver of distress in Pierce County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 95.4 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Pierce County compare to neighboring counties?

    Pierce County (64.7) can be compared to its 5 neighboring counties: Ware County, GA (83.4); Wayne County, GA (74.5); Bacon County, GA (68.1).

  • 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). Pierce County's score of 64.7 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Pierce 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 Pierce County?

    Pierce County, Georgia has a population of approximately 20,425 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.