Thomas County, Georgia

County Distress Index: Serious · 75.5 | 45,649 people · 45th most distressed in Georgia
American Default Research

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Thomas County, GA shows significant household financial distress with a score of 75.5 — 168th 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 45th of 159 counties. Its score is in the middle of its 6 neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Thomas County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 92.8 — worse than roughly 93% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 92.8
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 93
Consumer Credit Distress 87.0
Debt in Collections 88
Medical Debt 90
Auto Loan Delinquency 92
Credit Card Delinquency 82
Uninsured Rate 70
Subprime Credit Population 90
Housing Cost Burden 65.6
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 63
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 57
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 67
Homeownership Rate 90
Structural Poverty 57.6
Unemployment Rate 27
Poverty Rate 80
Income vs. State Median 49
Child Poverty Rate 79
Disability Rate 66
Transfer Income Dependency 50
Economic Vitality 52.5
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 51
Rent-to-Income Ratio 80
Business Formation Rate 19
House Price Change (YoY) 41

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Thomas County
Thomas County, GA 75.5 Serious —
Mitchell County, GA 87.7 Crisis +12.1
Brooks County, GA 81.0 Crisis +5.5
Grady County, GA 80.4 Crisis +4.9
Colquitt County, GA 71.9 Serious -3.6
Leon County, FL 68.2 Serious -7.3
Jefferson County, FL 64.4 Elevated -11.1

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Thomas County
Macon County, AL 75.5 Serious 0.0
Pulaski 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 Thomas County as a CSV file.

Find Help in Thomas 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 Thomas 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 Thomas County, Georgia?

    Thomas County has a County Distress Index score of 75.5 out of 100, placing it in the Serious zone. It ranks 168th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 45th in Georgia out of 159 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Thomas County?

    The primary driver of distress in Thomas County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 92.8 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Thomas County compare to neighboring counties?

    Thomas County (75.5) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Mitchell County, GA (87.7); Brooks County, GA (81.0); Grady County, GA (80.4).

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

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

    Thomas 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 Thomas County?

    Thomas County, Georgia has a population of approximately 45,649 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.