Wilcox County, Georgia

County Distress Index: Serious · 67.6 | 8,779 people · 96th most distressed in Georgia
American Default Research

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Wilcox County, GA shows significant household financial distress with a score of 67.6 — 520th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Consumer Credit Distress, where residents carry heavy debt burdens with elevated delinquency and collections rates. Within Georgia, it ranks 96th of 159 counties. Among its 7 neighboring counties, 6 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Wilcox County's primary driver is Consumer Credit Distress at 83.7 — worse than roughly 84% of U.S. counties.

Consumer Credit Distress Primary driver 83.7
Debt in Collections 95
Medical Debt 95
Auto Loan Delinquency 56
Credit Card Delinquency 76
Uninsured Rate 87
Subprime Credit Population 92
Structural Poverty 74.3
Unemployment Rate 23
Poverty Rate 95
Income vs. State Median 87
Child Poverty Rate 95
Disability Rate 35
Transfer Income Dependency 91
Legal Distress 70.5
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 71
Economic Vitality 68.2
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 74
Rent-to-Income Ratio 82
Business Formation Rate 51
House Price Change (YoY) 28
Housing Cost Burden 27.8
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 33
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 17
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 5
Homeownership Rate 57

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Wilcox County
Wilcox County, GA 67.6 Serious —
Crisp County, GA 83.1 Crisis +15.5
Ben Hill County, GA 77.3 Serious +9.7
Telfair County, GA 77.3 Serious +9.7
Pulaski County, GA 75.5 Serious +7.9
Dodge County, GA 74.0 Serious +6.4
Turner County, GA 72.0 Serious +4.4
Dooly County, GA 64.7 Elevated -2.8

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Wilcox County
Twiggs County, GA 67.6 Serious +0.0
Warren County, GA 67.7 Serious +0.1
Esmeralda County, NV 67.7 Serious +0.2
Clinton County, KY 67.8 Serious +0.2
Swisher County, TX 67.3 Serious -0.2

Download Data

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

Find Help in Wilcox 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 Wilcox 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 Wilcox County, Georgia?

    Wilcox County has a County Distress Index score of 67.6 out of 100, placing it in the Serious zone. It ranks 520th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 96th in Georgia out of 159 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Wilcox County?

    The primary driver of distress in Wilcox County is Consumer Credit Distress, where the county scores 83.7 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Debt in Collections, Medical Debt, Auto Loan Delinquency.

  • How does Wilcox County compare to neighboring counties?

    Wilcox County (67.6) can be compared to its 7 neighboring counties: Crisp County, GA (83.1); Ben Hill County, GA (77.3); Telfair County, GA (77.3).

  • 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). Wilcox County's score of 67.6 sits in the Serious zone (71–86).

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

    Wilcox 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 Wilcox County?

    Wilcox County, Georgia has a population of approximately 8,779 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a tiny county.