Pike County, Mississippi

County Distress Index: Serious · 77.3 | 39,394 people · 17th most distressed in Mississippi
American Default Research

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Pike County, MS shows significant household financial distress with a score of 77.3 — 121st 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 17th of 82 counties. Among its 5 neighboring counties, 4 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Pike County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 94.1 — worse than roughly 94% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 94.1
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 94
Consumer Credit Distress 86.2
Debt in Collections 87
Medical Debt 46
Auto Loan Delinquency 95
Credit Card Delinquency 94
Uninsured Rate 84
Subprime Credit Population 99
Structural Poverty 83.6
Unemployment Rate 58
Poverty Rate 94
Income vs. State Median 84
Child Poverty Rate 95
Disability Rate 72
Transfer Income Dependency 92
Economic Vitality 66.8
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 71
Rent-to-Income Ratio 92
Business Formation Rate 13
House Price Change (YoY) 76
Housing Cost Burden 53.2
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 38
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 59
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 43
Homeownership Rate 80

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Pike County
Pike County, MS 77.3 Serious —
Tangipahoa Parish, LA 77.8 Serious +0.6
Washington Parish, LA 75.0 Serious -2.2
Amite County, MS 65.7 Serious -11.6
Lincoln County, MS 64.9 Elevated -12.3
Walthall County, MS 64.4 Elevated -12.9

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Pike County
Telfair County, GA 77.3 Serious -0.0
Ben Hill County, GA 77.3 Serious +0.0
Barnwell County, SC 77.4 Serious +0.1
Anson County, NC 77.5 Serious +0.2
Seminole County, OK 77.0 Serious -0.3

Download Data

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

Find Help in Pike County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Pike County.

D&E, A HOUSING AND ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT CENTER, INC.
McComb
601-600-7001 Website
Foreclosure PreventionMortgage HelpFinancial CounselingFinancial Counseling

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 Pike 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 Pike County, Mississippi?

    Pike County has a County Distress Index score of 77.3 out of 100, placing it in the Serious zone. It ranks 121st nationally out of 3,144 counties and 17th in Mississippi out of 82 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Pike County?

    The primary driver of distress in Pike County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 94.1 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Pike County compare to neighboring counties?

    Pike County (77.3) can be compared to its 5 neighboring counties: Tangipahoa Parish, LA (77.8); Washington Parish, LA (75.0); Amite County, MS (65.7).

  • 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). Pike County's score of 77.3 sits in the Serious zone (71–86).

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

    Pike 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 Pike County?

    Pike County, Mississippi has a population of approximately 39,394 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.