Seminole County, Georgia

County Distress Index: Serious · 67.1 | 9,092 people · 100th most distressed in Georgia
American Default Research

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Seminole County, GA shows significant household financial distress with a score of 67.1 — 541st 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 100th 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. Seminole County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 94.5 — worse than roughly 95% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 94.5
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 95
Consumer Credit Distress 83.9
Debt in Collections 81
Medical Debt 83
Auto Loan Delinquency 82
Credit Card Delinquency 72
Uninsured Rate 92
Subprime Credit Population 95
Structural Poverty 79.0
Unemployment Rate 55
Poverty Rate 91
Income vs. State Median 74
Child Poverty Rate 95
Disability Rate 76
Transfer Income Dependency 81
Economic Vitality 53.5
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 70
Rent-to-Income Ratio 71
Business Formation Rate 5
House Price Change (YoY) 10
Housing Cost Burden 20.4
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 5
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 16
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 43
Homeownership Rate 50

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Seminole County
Seminole County, GA 67.1 Serious —
Gadsden County, FL 84.5 Crisis +17.5
Decatur County, GA 78.7 Serious +11.6
Early County, GA 77.9 Serious +10.8
Jackson County, FL 76.3 Serious +9.2
Miller County, GA 73.4 Serious +6.3
Houston County, AL 65.3 Serious -1.8

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Seminole County
Carter County, MO 67.1 Serious 0.0
Allendale County, SC 67.3 Serious +0.2
Stewart County, GA 66.9 Serious -0.2
Swisher County, TX 67.3 Serious +0.3
Hickory County, MO 66.8 Serious -0.3

Download Data

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

Find Help in Seminole 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 Seminole 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 Seminole County, Georgia?

    Seminole County has a County Distress Index score of 67.1 out of 100, placing it in the Serious zone. It ranks 541st nationally out of 3,144 counties and 100th in Georgia out of 159 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Seminole County?

    The primary driver of distress in Seminole County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 94.5 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Seminole County compare to neighboring counties?

    Seminole County (67.1) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Gadsden County, FL (84.5); Decatur County, GA (78.7); Early County, GA (77.9).

  • 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 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). Seminole County's score of 67.1 sits in the Serious zone (71–86).

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

    Seminole 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 Seminole County?

    Seminole County, Georgia has a population of approximately 9,092 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a tiny county.