Pulaski County, Georgia

County Distress Index: Serious · 75.5 | 10,095 people · 44th most distressed in Georgia
American Default Research

Behind on your mortgage or facing eviction? Take a 2-minute assessment to see your options.

Pulaski County, GA shows significant household financial distress with a score of 75.5 — 167th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Housing Cost Burden, where a large share of households spend more than 30% of income on housing. Within Georgia, it ranks 44th of 159 counties. It scores higher than all 5 of its neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Pulaski County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 78.7 — worse than roughly 79% of U.S. counties.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 78.7
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 91
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 88
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 5
Homeownership Rate 78
Consumer Credit Distress 78.1
Debt in Collections 85
Medical Debt 94
Auto Loan Delinquency 61
Credit Card Delinquency 78
Uninsured Rate 67
Subprime Credit Population 79
Structural Poverty 77.1
Unemployment Rate 19
Poverty Rate 93
Income vs. State Median 85
Child Poverty Rate 93
Disability Rate 82
Transfer Income Dependency 78
Legal Distress 66.1
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 66
Economic Vitality 59.7
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 54
Rent-to-Income Ratio 86
Business Formation Rate 17
House Price Change (YoY) 92

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Pulaski County
Pulaski County, GA 75.5 Serious —
Dodge County, GA 74.0 Serious -1.5
Bleckley County, GA 71.6 Serious -3.9
Houston County, GA 68.6 Serious -6.9
Wilcox County, GA 67.6 Serious -7.9
Dooly County, GA 64.7 Elevated -10.8

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Pulaski County
Macon County, AL 75.5 Serious 0.0
Thomas County, GA 75.5 Serious 0.0
Brown County, TX 75.5 Serious -0.0
Calhoun County, FL 75.5 Serious -0.0
Peach County, GA 75.5 Serious -0.0

Download Data

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

Find Help in Pulaski 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 Pulaski 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 →

Continue Reading

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the distress score for Pulaski County, Georgia?

    Pulaski County has a County Distress Index score of 75.5 out of 100, placing it in the Serious zone. It ranks 167th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 44th in Georgia out of 159 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Pulaski County?

    The primary driver of distress in Pulaski County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 78.7 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Pulaski County compare to neighboring counties?

    Pulaski County (75.5) can be compared to its 5 neighboring counties: Dodge County, GA (74.0); Bleckley County, GA (71.6); Houston County, GA (68.6).

  • 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 Serious 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). Pulaski County's score of 75.5 sits in the Serious zone (71–86).

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

    Pulaski 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 Pulaski County?

    Pulaski County, Georgia has a population of approximately 10,095 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.