Coahoma County, Mississippi

County Distress Index: Crisis · 85.7 | 20,077 people · 3rd most distressed in Mississippi
American Default Research

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Coahoma County, MS ranks among the most financially distressed counties in America with a score of 85.7 — 14th 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 3rd of 82 counties. Among its 6 neighboring counties, 5 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Coahoma County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 98.8 — worse than roughly 99% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 98.8
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 99
Consumer Credit Distress 97.4
Debt in Collections 99
Medical Debt 99
Auto Loan Delinquency 99
Credit Card Delinquency 99
Uninsured Rate 82
Subprime Credit Population 99
Structural Poverty 87.8
Unemployment Rate 90
Poverty Rate 99
Income vs. State Median 97
Child Poverty Rate 99
Disability Rate 41
Transfer Income Dependency 95
Housing Cost Burden 70.9
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 72
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 67
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 41
Homeownership Rate 99
Economic Vitality 47.8
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 27
Rent-to-Income Ratio 92
Business Formation Rate 7
House Price Change (YoY) 99

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Coahoma County
Coahoma County, MS 85.7 Crisis —
Tunica County, MS 88.5 Crisis +2.8
Phillips County, AR 85.5 Crisis -0.2
Bolivar County, MS 84.7 Crisis -1.0
Sunflower County, MS 78.7 Serious -7.0
Quitman County, MS 77.2 Serious -8.5
Tallahatchie County, MS 71.6 Serious -14.1

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Coahoma County
Crittenden County, AR 85.8 Crisis +0.1
Phillips County, AR 85.5 Crisis -0.2
Hopewell city, VA 86.0 Crisis +0.2
Baldwin County, GA 85.4 Crisis -0.4
Washington County, MS 86.1 Crisis +0.4

Download Data

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

Find Help in Coahoma County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Coahoma County.

SOUTHERN BANCORP COMMUNITY PARTNERS
Clarksdale
662-624-5776-3112 Website
Foreclosure PreventionFinancial CounselingFinancial CounselingFair Housing

See all counselors in Mississippi →

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 Coahoma County residents at no cost.

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

American Default Research does not endorse, rate, or rank any provider. Verify attorney credentials with your state bar.

Need legal help? Find a foreclosure defense attorney in Mississippi →

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Frequently Asked Questions

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

    Coahoma County has a County Distress Index score of 85.7 out of 100, placing it in the Crisis zone. It ranks 14th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 3rd in Mississippi out of 82 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Coahoma County?

    The primary driver of distress in Coahoma County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 98.8 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Coahoma County compare to neighboring counties?

    Coahoma County (85.7) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Tunica County, MS (88.5); Phillips County, AR (85.5); Bolivar County, MS (84.7).

  • 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 Crisis 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). Coahoma County's score of 85.7 sits in the Crisis zone (86 and above).

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

    Coahoma 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 Coahoma County?

    Coahoma County, Mississippi has a population of approximately 20,077 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.