Hinds County, Mississippi

County Distress Index: Crisis · 83.6 | 214,870 people · 7th most distressed in Mississippi
American Default Research

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Hinds County, MS ranks among the most financially distressed counties in America with a score of 83.6 — 26th 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 7th of 82 counties. Among its 7 neighboring counties, 6 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Hinds County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 96.8 — worse than roughly 97% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 96.8
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 97
Consumer Credit Distress 91.9
Debt in Collections 92
Medical Debt 73
Auto Loan Delinquency 99
Credit Card Delinquency 96
Uninsured Rate 81
Subprime Credit Population 99
Housing Cost Burden 89.3
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 93
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 91
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 64
Homeownership Rate 95
Economic Vitality 58.4
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 58
Rent-to-Income Ratio 96
Business Formation Rate 3
House Price Change (YoY) 52
Structural Poverty 55.3
Unemployment Rate 30
Poverty Rate 89
Income vs. State Median 40
Child Poverty Rate 90
Disability Rate 42
Transfer Income Dependency 48

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Hinds County
Hinds County, MS 83.6 Crisis —
Yazoo County, MS 84.8 Crisis +1.2
Copiah County, MS 74.2 Serious -9.4
Warren County, MS 73.8 Serious -9.8
Claiborne County, MS 69.2 Serious -14.4
Simpson County, MS 68.8 Serious -14.8
Rankin County, MS 63.7 Elevated -19.9
Madison County, MS 55.3 Elevated -28.3

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Hinds County
Rockdale County, GA 84.4 Crisis +0.8
Newton County, GA 82.7 Crisis -0.9
Caddo Parish, LA 82.7 Crisis -0.9
Troup County, GA 82.3 Crisis -1.3
Muscogee County, GA 82.1 Crisis -1.5

Download Data

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

Find Help in Hinds County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Hinds County.

HOUSING EDUCATION AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, INC.
Jackson
601-981-1960 Website
Foreclosure PreventionMortgage HelpFinancial CounselingFair Housing
MISSISSIPPI FAITH BASED COALITION FOR COMMUNITY RENEWAL, INC.
Jackson
601-346-7503 Website
Foreclosure PreventionFinancial CounselingFinancial CounselingHomeless/Displacement
MISSISSIPPI HOUSING PARTNERSHIP, INC.
Jackson
601-969-1895 Website
Foreclosure PreventionFinancial CounselingFair HousingHomeless/Displacement
NSC (NACA COUNSELING SUBSIDIARY) - JACKSON, MS
Jackson
601-922-4008 Website
Foreclosure PreventionFinancial CounselingFair HousingPost-Purchase
OPERATION HOPE- TRUSTMARK FINANCIAL CORP- JACKSON MS
Jackson
769-209-6164 Website
Pre-PurchaseHomebuyer Education

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 Hinds 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 Hinds County, Mississippi?

    Hinds County has a County Distress Index score of 83.6 out of 100, placing it in the Crisis zone. It ranks 26th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 7th in Mississippi out of 82 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Hinds County?

    The primary driver of distress in Hinds County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 96.8 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Hinds County compare to neighboring counties?

    Hinds County (83.6) can be compared to its 7 neighboring counties: Yazoo County, MS (84.8); Copiah County, MS (74.2); Warren County, MS (73.8).

  • 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). Hinds County's score of 83.6 sits in the Crisis zone (86 and above).

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

    Hinds 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 Hinds County?

    Hinds County, Mississippi has a population of approximately 214,870 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.