Wilkes County, Georgia

County Distress Index: Serious · 66.8 | 9,518 people · 103rd most distressed in Georgia
American Default Research

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Wilkes County, GA shows significant household financial distress with a score of 66.8 — 562nd 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 103rd of 159 counties. Among its 6 neighboring counties, 4 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Wilkes County's primary driver is Consumer Credit Distress at 85.8 — worse than roughly 86% of U.S. counties.

Consumer Credit Distress Primary driver 85.8
Debt in Collections 88
Medical Debt 93
Auto Loan Delinquency 63
Credit Card Delinquency 91
Uninsured Rate 95
Subprime Credit Population 90
Structural Poverty 72.4
Unemployment Rate 49
Poverty Rate 77
Income vs. State Median 77
Child Poverty Rate 94
Disability Rate 66
Transfer Income Dependency 68
Legal Distress 72.0
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 72
Economic Vitality 47.9
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 35
Rent-to-Income Ratio 74
Business Formation Rate 17
House Price Change (YoY) 95
Housing Cost Burden 28.9
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 15
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 18
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 39
Homeownership Rate 81

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Wilkes County
Wilkes County, GA 66.8 Serious —
McDuffie County, GA 81.5 Crisis +14.7
Elbert County, GA 74.6 Serious +7.8
Taliaferro County, GA 70.4 Serious +3.6
Warren County, GA 67.7 Serious +0.9
Lincoln County, GA 63.7 Elevated -3.1
Oglethorpe County, GA 61.1 Elevated -5.6

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Wilkes County
Clay County, WV 66.8 Serious -0.0
Hickory County, MO 66.8 Serious +0.0
Stewart County, GA 66.9 Serious +0.1
Wheeler County, GA 66.7 Serious -0.1
Benton County, MS 66.7 Serious -0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Wilkes 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 Wilkes 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 Wilkes County, Georgia?

    Wilkes County has a County Distress Index score of 66.8 out of 100, placing it in the Serious zone. It ranks 562nd nationally out of 3,144 counties and 103rd in Georgia out of 159 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Wilkes County?

    The primary driver of distress in Wilkes County is Consumer Credit Distress, where the county scores 85.8 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Debt in Collections, Medical Debt, Auto Loan Delinquency.

  • How does Wilkes County compare to neighboring counties?

    Wilkes County (66.8) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: McDuffie County, GA (81.5); Elbert County, GA (74.6); Taliaferro County, GA (70.4).

  • 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). Wilkes County's score of 66.8 sits in the Serious zone (71–86).

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

    Wilkes 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 Wilkes County?

    Wilkes County, Georgia has a population of approximately 9,518 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a tiny county.