Walton County, Georgia

County Distress Index: Serious · 68.5 | 106,702 people · 86th most distressed in Georgia
American Default Research

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Walton County, GA shows significant household financial distress with a score of 68.5 — 468th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Housing Cost Burden, where a large share of households spend more than 30% of income on housing. Within Georgia, it ranks 86th 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. Walton County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 78.7 — worse than roughly 79% of U.S. counties.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 78.7
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 92
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 90
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 77
Homeownership Rate 23
Legal Distress 78.4
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 78
Economic Vitality 77.1
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 97
Rent-to-Income Ratio 90
Business Formation Rate 8
House Price Change (YoY) 73
Consumer Credit Distress 74.1
Debt in Collections 64
Medical Debt 66
Auto Loan Delinquency 75
Credit Card Delinquency 88
Uninsured Rate 74
Subprime Credit Population 78
Structural Poverty 20.6
Unemployment Rate 27
Poverty Rate 21
Income vs. State Median 5
Child Poverty Rate 29
Disability Rate 33
Transfer Income Dependency 18

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Walton County
Walton County, GA 68.5 Serious —
Rockdale County, GA 84.4 Crisis +16.0
Newton County, GA 82.7 Crisis +14.2
Gwinnett County, GA 68.5 Serious +0.0
Barrow County, GA 68.1 Serious -0.4
Morgan County, GA 52.6 Elevated -15.8
Oconee County, GA 18.6 Healthy -49.9

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Walton County
St. Martin Parish, LA 68.5 Serious +0.0
Scioto County, OH 68.5 Serious +0.0
Orange County, TX 68.5 Serious +0.0
Montgomery County, TN 68.5 Serious +0.0
Atascosa County, TX 68.4 Serious -0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Walton 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 Walton 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 Walton County, Georgia?

    Walton County has a County Distress Index score of 68.5 out of 100, placing it in the Serious zone. It ranks 468th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 86th in Georgia out of 159 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Walton County?

    The primary driver of distress in Walton County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 78.7 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Walton County compare to neighboring counties?

    Walton County (68.5) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Rockdale County, GA (84.4); Newton County, GA (82.7); Gwinnett County, GA (68.5).

  • 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). Walton County's score of 68.5 sits in the Serious zone (71–86).

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

    Walton 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 Walton County?

    Walton County, Georgia has a population of approximately 106,702 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.