Benton County, Tennessee

County Distress Index: Elevated · 55.1 | 16,103 people · 65th most distressed in Tennessee
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Benton County, TN registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 55.1 — 1263rd nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Legal Distress, where bankruptcy filing rates are well above the national average. Within Tennessee, it ranks 65th of 95 counties. Among its 7 neighboring counties, 5 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Benton County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 85.8 — worse than roughly 86% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 85.8
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 86
Structural Poverty 81.9
Unemployment Rate 69
Poverty Rate 76
Income vs. State Median 71
Child Poverty Rate 86
Disability Rate 95
Transfer Income Dependency 93
Consumer Credit Distress 59.7
Debt in Collections 62
Medical Debt 70
Auto Loan Delinquency 64
Credit Card Delinquency 36
Uninsured Rate 59
Subprime Credit Population 66
Economic Vitality 38.3
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 44
Rent-to-Income Ratio 50
Business Formation Rate 9
House Price Change (YoY) 32
Housing Cost Burden 25.8
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 20
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 25
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 14
Homeownership Rate 49

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Benton County
Benton County, TN 55.1 Elevated —
Carroll County, TN 67.4 Serious +12.3
Henry County, TN 59.2 Elevated +4.0
Perry County, TN 54.8 Elevated -0.3
Humphreys County, TN 51.6 Elevated -3.5
Houston County, TN 50.6 Elevated -4.5
Decatur County, TN 49.1 Normal -6.0
Stewart County, TN 33.7 Healthy -21.4

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Benton County
Shelby County, IN 55.1 Elevated -0.0
White County, GA 55.1 Elevated -0.0
Gilchrist County, FL 55.1 Elevated +0.0
Monroe County, GA 55.2 Elevated +0.0
Caroline County, VA 55.2 Elevated +0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Benton County

Find an Attorney

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

Tennessee Bar Association — Lawyer Referral Service 615-383-7421

Free Legal Aid

Legal aid organizations serving Benton County residents at no cost.

Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands 615-244-6610 (Nashville); 1-888-244-6610 (statewide hotline)
West Tennessee Legal Services 731-423-0616
Legal Services of South Central Tennessee 931-381-5533
Tennessee Justice Center 615-255-0331
Appalachian Regional Commission — East Tennessee Legal Aid 865-674-0260
Legal Aid of East Tennessee (865) 637-0484

American Default Research does not endorse, rate, or rank any provider. Verify attorney credentials with your state bar.

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the distress score for Benton County, Tennessee?

    Benton County has a County Distress Index score of 55.1 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 1,263rd nationally out of 3,144 counties and 65th in Tennessee out of 95 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Benton County?

    The primary driver of distress in Benton County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 85.8 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Benton County compare to neighboring counties?

    Benton County (55.1) can be compared to its 7 neighboring counties: Carroll County, TN (67.4); Henry County, TN (59.2); Perry County, TN (54.8).

  • 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 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). Benton County's score of 55.1 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Benton 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 Benton County?

    Benton County, Tennessee has a population of approximately 16,103 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.