Schley County, Georgia

County Distress Index: Elevated · 57.6 | 4,526 people · 135th most distressed in Georgia
American Default Research

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Schley County, GA registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 57.6 — 1115th 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 135th 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. Schley County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 74.5 — above the national median.

Legal Distress Primary driver 74.5
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 75
Consumer Credit Distress 69.3
Debt in Collections 79
Medical Debt 32
Auto Loan Delinquency 47
Credit Card Delinquency 95
Uninsured Rate 64
Subprime Credit Population 84
Structural Poverty 46.9
Unemployment Rate 23
Poverty Rate 63
Income vs. State Median 27
Child Poverty Rate 68
Disability Rate 61
Transfer Income Dependency 46
Economic Vitality 46.2
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 53
Rent-to-Income Ratio 30
Business Formation Rate 59
House Price Change (YoY) 36
Housing Cost Burden 38.2
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 33
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 43
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 59
Homeownership Rate 23

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Schley County
Schley County, GA 57.6 Elevated —
Sumter County, GA 80.0 Crisis +22.4
Taylor County, GA 80.0 Crisis +22.4
Macon County, GA 73.4 Serious +15.8
Marion County, GA 71.9 Serious +14.3

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Schley County
Coleman County, TX 57.5 Elevated -0.1
Alexander County, IL 57.6 Elevated +0.1
Bent County, CO 57.5 Elevated -0.1
Jefferson County, OK 57.7 Elevated +0.2
Montgomery County, AR 57.8 Elevated +0.3

Download Data

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

Find Help in Schley 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 Schley 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 Schley County, Georgia?

    Schley County has a County Distress Index score of 57.6 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 1,115th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 135th in Georgia out of 159 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Schley County?

    The primary driver of distress in Schley County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 74.5 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Schley County compare to neighboring counties?

    Schley County (57.6) can be compared to its 4 neighboring counties: Sumter County, GA (80.0); Taylor County, GA (80.0); Macon County, GA (73.4).

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

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

    Schley 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 Schley County?

    Schley County, Georgia has a population of approximately 4,526 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a tiny county.