Forrest County, Mississippi

County Distress Index: Serious · 74.6 | 78,208 people · 25th most distressed in Mississippi
American Default Research

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Forrest County, MS shows significant household financial distress with a score of 74.6 — 206th 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 25th of 82 counties. It scores higher than all 6 of its neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Forrest County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 84.3 — worse than roughly 84% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 84.3
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 84
Housing Cost Burden 83.9
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 84
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 84
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 66
Homeownership Rate 95
Consumer Credit Distress 79.3
Debt in Collections 76
Medical Debt 48
Auto Loan Delinquency 92
Credit Card Delinquency 81
Uninsured Rate 71
Subprime Credit Population 94
Structural Poverty 55.5
Unemployment Rate 13
Poverty Rate 82
Income vs. State Median 39
Child Poverty Rate 65
Disability Rate 78
Transfer Income Dependency 58
Economic Vitality 47.9
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 45
Rent-to-Income Ratio 77
Business Formation Rate 11
House Price Change (YoY) 44

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Forrest County
Forrest County, MS 74.6 Serious —
Jones County, MS 70.8 Serious -3.8
Pearl River County, MS 65.6 Serious -9.0
Stone County, MS 65.3 Serious -9.3
Perry County, MS 62.0 Elevated -12.6
Covington County, MS 60.7 Elevated -13.8
Lamar County, MS 57.5 Elevated -17.1

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Forrest County
Oktibbeha County, MS 74.6 Serious +0.1
Calhoun County, AL 74.5 Serious -0.1
Potter County, TX 74.7 Serious +0.1
Bulloch County, GA 74.4 Serious -0.2
Bowie County, TX 74.3 Serious -0.3

Download Data

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

Find Help in Forrest County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Forrest County.

BREAKTHROUGH COMMUNITY SERVICES, INC
Hattiesburg
601-582-3475 Website
Foreclosure PreventionFinancial CounselingFinancial CounselingHome Improvement/Rehab

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 Forrest 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 Forrest County, Mississippi?

    Forrest County has a County Distress Index score of 74.6 out of 100, placing it in the Serious zone. It ranks 206th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 25th in Mississippi out of 82 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Forrest County?

    The primary driver of distress in Forrest County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 84.3 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Forrest County compare to neighboring counties?

    Forrest County (74.6) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Jones County, MS (70.8); Pearl River County, MS (65.6); Stone County, MS (65.3).

  • 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). Forrest County's score of 74.6 sits in the Serious zone (71–86).

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

    Forrest 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 Forrest County?

    Forrest County, Mississippi has a population of approximately 78,208 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.