Sumter County, Georgia

County Distress Index: Crisis · 80.0 | 28,890 people · 22nd most distressed in Georgia
American Default Research

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Sumter County, GA ranks among the most financially distressed counties in America with a score of 80.0 — 61st 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 22nd 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. Sumter County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 91.5 — worse than roughly 92% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 91.5
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 92
Consumer Credit Distress 87.3
Debt in Collections 96
Medical Debt 41
Auto Loan Delinquency 94
Credit Card Delinquency 99
Uninsured Rate 83
Subprime Credit Population 96
Structural Poverty 78.8
Unemployment Rate 74
Poverty Rate 96
Income vs. State Median 91
Child Poverty Rate 99
Disability Rate 24
Transfer Income Dependency 82
Housing Cost Burden 67.9
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 67
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 51
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 85
Homeownership Rate 96
Economic Vitality 64.6
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 75
Rent-to-Income Ratio 95
Business Formation Rate 21
House Price Change (YoY) 3

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Sumter County
Sumter County, GA 80.0 Crisis —
Crisp County, GA 83.1 Crisis +3.1
Terrell County, GA 75.6 Serious -4.4
Macon County, GA 73.4 Serious -6.6
Marion County, GA 71.9 Serious -8.2
Dooly County, GA 64.7 Elevated -15.3
Lee County, GA 63.5 Elevated -16.5
Webster County, GA 62.0 Elevated -18.0
Schley County, GA 57.6 Elevated -22.4

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Sumter County
Bell County, KY 79.9 Serious -0.1
Bee County, TX 79.8 Serious -0.2
Bamberg County, SC 79.8 Serious -0.2
Concordia Parish, LA 80.3 Crisis +0.2
Polk County, GA 80.3 Crisis +0.3

Download Data

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

Find Help in Sumter 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 Sumter 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 Sumter County, Georgia?

    Sumter County has a County Distress Index score of 80.0 out of 100, placing it in the Crisis zone. It ranks 61st nationally out of 3,144 counties and 22nd in Georgia out of 159 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Sumter County?

    The primary driver of distress in Sumter County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 91.5 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Sumter County compare to neighboring counties?

    Sumter County (80.0) can be compared to its 8 neighboring counties: Crisp County, GA (83.1); Terrell County, GA (75.6); 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 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). Sumter County's score of 80.0 sits in the Crisis zone (86 and above).

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

    Sumter 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 Sumter County?

    Sumter County, Georgia has a population of approximately 28,890 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.