Pontotoc County, Oklahoma

County Distress Index: Elevated · 50.5 | 38,396 people · 62nd most distressed in Oklahoma
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Pontotoc County, OK registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 50.5 — 1542nd nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Consumer Credit Distress, where debt and delinquency levels sit above the national average. Within Oklahoma, it ranks 62nd of 77 counties. Among its 8 neighboring counties, 7 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Pontotoc County's primary driver is Consumer Credit Distress at 61.4 — above the national median.

Consumer Credit Distress Primary driver 61.4
Debt in Collections 71
Medical Debt 50
Auto Loan Delinquency 44
Credit Card Delinquency 40
Uninsured Rate 93
Subprime Credit Population 79
Legal Distress 50.7
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 51
Housing Cost Burden 43.0
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 34
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 40
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 27
Homeownership Rate 81
Structural Poverty 40.9
Unemployment Rate 38
Poverty Rate 53
Income vs. State Median 30
Child Poverty Rate 39
Disability Rate 38
Transfer Income Dependency 49
Economic Vitality 26.8
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 12
Rent-to-Income Ratio 33
Business Formation Rate 32
House Price Change (YoY) 76

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Pontotoc County
Pontotoc County, OK 50.5 Elevated —
Seminole County, OK 77.0 Serious +26.5
Pottawatomie County, OK 70.3 Serious +19.8
Hughes County, OK 63.2 Elevated +12.7
Garvin County, OK 62.6 Elevated +12.0
Johnston County, OK 59.1 Elevated +8.6
McClain County, OK 55.6 Elevated +5.1
Murray County, OK 54.6 Elevated +4.0
Coal County, OK 50.0 Elevated -0.5

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Pontotoc County
Pamlico County, NC 50.5 Elevated -0.0
Macon County, NC 50.5 Elevated -0.0
Itawamba County, MS 50.5 Elevated -0.1
Taos County, NM 50.6 Elevated +0.1
Howard County, MO 50.4 Elevated -0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Pontotoc County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Pontotoc County.

CHICKASAW NATION DIVISION OF HOUSING
Ada
580-421-8817 Website
Foreclosure PreventionPost-PurchasePre-PurchaseHomebuyer Education

See all counselors in Oklahoma →

Find an Attorney

Oklahoma Bar Association Lawyer Referral offers a lawyer referral service for bankruptcy, foreclosure defense, and consumer rights.

Oklahoma Bar Association Lawyer Referral 405-416-7000

Free Legal Aid

Legal aid organizations serving Pontotoc County residents at no cost.

Legal Aid Services of Oklahoma 1-888-534-5243

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 Oklahoma →

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the distress score for Pontotoc County, Oklahoma?

    Pontotoc County has a County Distress Index score of 50.5 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 1,542nd nationally out of 3,144 counties and 62nd in Oklahoma out of 77 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Pontotoc County?

    The primary driver of distress in Pontotoc County is Consumer Credit Distress, where the county scores 61.4 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Debt in Collections, Medical Debt, Auto Loan Delinquency.

  • How does Pontotoc County compare to neighboring counties?

    Pontotoc County (50.5) can be compared to its 8 neighboring counties: Seminole County, OK (77.0); Pottawatomie County, OK (70.3); Hughes County, OK (63.2).

  • 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 Elevated 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). Pontotoc County's score of 50.5 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Pontotoc 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 Pontotoc County?

    Pontotoc County, Oklahoma has a population of approximately 38,396 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.