Spalding County, Georgia

County Distress Index: Crisis · 85.1 | 69,946 people · 8th most distressed in Georgia
American Default Research

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Spalding County, GA ranks among the most financially distressed counties in America with a score of 85.1 — 17th 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 8th of 159 counties. Among its 8 neighboring counties, 7 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Spalding County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 95.0 — worse than roughly 95% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 95.0
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 95
Consumer Credit Distress 94.9
Debt in Collections 99
Medical Debt 94
Auto Loan Delinquency 94
Credit Card Delinquency 97
Uninsured Rate 83
Subprime Credit Population 95
Economic Vitality 80.0
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 99
Rent-to-Income Ratio 99
Business Formation Rate 9
House Price Change (YoY) 65
Housing Cost Burden 79.7
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 84
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 78
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 61
Homeownership Rate 87
Structural Poverty 58.0
Unemployment Rate 49
Poverty Rate 69
Income vs. State Median 41
Child Poverty Rate 86
Disability Rate 30
Transfer Income Dependency 72

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Spalding County
Spalding County, GA 85.1 Crisis —
Clayton County, GA 88.0 Crisis +2.8
Henry County, GA 78.3 Serious -6.8
Butts County, GA 77.7 Serious -7.5
Meriwether County, GA 76.1 Serious -9.0
Lamar County, GA 63.4 Elevated -21.8
Pike County, GA 57.6 Elevated -27.6
Coweta County, GA 55.3 Elevated -29.9
Fayette County, GA 52.1 Elevated -33.1

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Spalding County
Rockdale County, GA 84.4 Crisis -0.7
Russell County, AL 86.5 Crisis +1.3
Hinds County, MS 83.6 Crisis -1.5
Dougherty County, GA 87.3 Crisis +2.1
Newton County, GA 82.7 Crisis -2.5

Download Data

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

Find Help in Spalding 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 Spalding 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

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Frequently Asked Questions

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

    Spalding County has a County Distress Index score of 85.1 out of 100, placing it in the Crisis zone. It ranks 17th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 8th in Georgia out of 159 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Spalding County?

    The primary driver of distress in Spalding County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 95.0 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Spalding County compare to neighboring counties?

    Spalding County (85.1) can be compared to its 8 neighboring counties: Clayton County, GA (88.0); Henry County, GA (78.3); Butts County, GA (77.7).

  • 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 Crisis 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). Spalding County's score of 85.1 sits in the Crisis zone (86 and above).

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

    Spalding 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 Spalding County?

    Spalding County, Georgia has a population of approximately 69,946 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.