Benton County, Mississippi

County Distress Index: Serious · 66.7 | 7,438 people · 49th most distressed in Mississippi
American Default Research

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Benton County, MS shows significant household financial distress with a score of 66.7 — 570th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Legal Distress, where bankruptcy filing rates are well above the national average. Within Mississippi, it ranks 49th of 82 counties. Among its 5 neighboring counties, 3 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Benton County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 94.0 — worse than roughly 94% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 94.0
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 94
Consumer Credit Distress 90.3
Debt in Collections 88
Medical Debt 91
Auto Loan Delinquency 90
Credit Card Delinquency 91
Uninsured Rate 83
Subprime Credit Population 95
Structural Poverty 74.2
Unemployment Rate 34
Poverty Rate 86
Income vs. State Median 55
Child Poverty Rate 91
Disability Rate 93
Transfer Income Dependency 85
Economic Vitality 24.5
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 18
Rent-to-Income Ratio 50
Business Formation Rate 11
House Price Change (YoY) 5
Housing Cost Burden 20.2
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 35
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 5
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 43
Homeownership Rate 6

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Benton County
Benton County, MS 66.7 Serious —
Marshall County, MS 79.7 Serious +13.0
Hardeman County, TN 77.8 Serious +11.1
Tippah County, MS 63.7 Elevated -3.0
Union County, MS 60.1 Elevated -6.6
Fayette County, TN 51.1 Elevated -15.6

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Benton County
Wheeler County, GA 66.7 Serious +0.0
Clay County, WV 66.8 Serious +0.1
Wilkes County, GA 66.8 Serious +0.1
Hickory County, MO 66.8 Serious +0.1
Stewart County, GA 66.9 Serious +0.2

Download Data

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

Find Help in Benton County

Find an Attorney

Mississippi Bar Lawyer Referral offers a lawyer referral service for bankruptcy, foreclosure defense, and consumer rights.

Mississippi Bar Lawyer Referral 601-948-4471

Free Legal Aid

Legal aid organizations serving Benton County residents at no cost.

Mississippi Center for Legal Services 1-800-498-1804
North Mississippi Rural Legal Services 1-800-898-8731

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the distress score for Benton County, Mississippi?

    Benton County has a County Distress Index score of 66.7 out of 100, placing it in the Serious zone. It ranks 570th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 49th in Mississippi out of 82 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Benton County?

    The primary driver of distress in Benton County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 94.0 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Benton County compare to neighboring counties?

    Benton County (66.7) can be compared to its 5 neighboring counties: Marshall County, MS (79.7); Hardeman County, TN (77.8); Tippah County, MS (63.7).

  • 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). Benton County's score of 66.7 sits in the Serious zone (71–86).

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

    Benton 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 Benton County?

    Benton County, Mississippi has a population of approximately 7,438 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a tiny county.