Jasper County, Mississippi

County Distress Index: Serious · 66.5 | 16,013 people · 51st most distressed in Mississippi
American Default Research

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Jasper County, MS shows significant household financial distress with a score of 66.5 — 576th 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 51st of 82 counties. Among its 7 neighboring counties, 5 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Jasper County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 92.1 — worse than roughly 92% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 92.1
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 92
Consumer Credit Distress 83.2
Debt in Collections 83
Medical Debt 49
Auto Loan Delinquency 95
Credit Card Delinquency 94
Uninsured Rate 64
Subprime Credit Population 95
Structural Poverty 77.0
Unemployment Rate 55
Poverty Rate 86
Income vs. State Median 62
Child Poverty Rate 87
Disability Rate 90
Transfer Income Dependency 82
Economic Vitality 35.9
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 15
Rent-to-Income Ratio 56
Business Formation Rate 31
House Price Change (YoY) 95
Housing Cost Burden 28.8
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 12
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 51
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 42
Homeownership Rate 7

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Jasper County
Jasper County, MS 66.5 Serious —
Lauderdale County, MS 76.5 Serious +10.0
Wayne County, MS 75.9 Serious +9.3
Jones County, MS 70.8 Serious +4.2
Clarke County, MS 70.1 Serious +3.5
Scott County, MS 66.6 Serious +0.1
Newton County, MS 64.0 Elevated -2.6
Smith County, MS 53.5 Elevated -13.1

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Jasper County
Halifax County, VA 66.5 Serious -0.1
Scott County, MS 66.6 Serious +0.1
Prince Edward County, VA 66.7 Serious +0.1
Westmoreland County, VA 66.7 Serious +0.1
Geary County, KS 66.4 Serious -0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Jasper 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 Jasper 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 Jasper County, Mississippi?

    Jasper County has a County Distress Index score of 66.5 out of 100, placing it in the Serious zone. It ranks 576th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 51st in Mississippi out of 82 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Jasper County?

    The primary driver of distress in Jasper County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 92.1 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Jasper County compare to neighboring counties?

    Jasper County (66.5) can be compared to its 7 neighboring counties: Lauderdale County, MS (76.5); Wayne County, MS (75.9); Jones County, MS (70.8).

  • 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 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). Jasper County's score of 66.5 sits in the Serious zone (71–86).

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

    Jasper 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 Jasper County?

    Jasper County, Mississippi has a population of approximately 16,013 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.