Pike County, Georgia

County Distress Index: Elevated · 57.6 | 20,461 people · 136th most distressed in Georgia
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Pike County, GA registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 57.6 — 1117th 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 136th of 159 counties. It scores lower than all 4 of its neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Pike County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 81.0 — worse than roughly 81% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 81.0
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 81
Economic Vitality 76.7
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 99
Rent-to-Income Ratio 89
Business Formation Rate 19
House Price Change (YoY) 39
Consumer Credit Distress 64.3
Debt in Collections 60
Medical Debt 85
Auto Loan Delinquency 53
Credit Card Delinquency 57
Uninsured Rate 86
Subprime Credit Population 61
Housing Cost Burden 52.3
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 60
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 57
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 80
Homeownership Rate 4
Structural Poverty 17.0
Unemployment Rate 16
Poverty Rate 31
Income vs. State Median 5
Child Poverty Rate 21
Disability Rate 11
Transfer Income Dependency 22

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Pike County
Pike County, GA 57.6 Elevated —
Spalding County, GA 85.1 Crisis +27.6
Upson County, GA 79.6 Serious +22.0
Meriwether County, GA 76.1 Serious +18.6
Lamar County, GA 63.4 Elevated +5.8

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Pike County
Torrance County, NM 57.5 Elevated -0.0
Churchill County, NV 57.5 Elevated -0.0
Morgan County, TN 57.6 Elevated +0.0
Greenup County, KY 57.6 Elevated +0.0
Scotts Bluff County, NE 57.6 Elevated +0.0

Download Data

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

Find Help in Pike 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 Pike 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 Pike County, Georgia?

    Pike County has a County Distress Index score of 57.6 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 1,117th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 136th in Georgia out of 159 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Pike County?

    The primary driver of distress in Pike County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 81.0 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Pike County compare to neighboring counties?

    Pike County (57.6) can be compared to its 4 neighboring counties: Spalding County, GA (85.1); Upson County, GA (79.6); Meriwether County, GA (76.1).

  • 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). Pike County's score of 57.6 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Pike 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 Pike County?

    Pike County, Georgia has a population of approximately 20,461 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.