Bledsoe County, Tennessee

County Distress Index: Elevated · 59.1 | 15,060 people · 44th most distressed in Tennessee
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Bledsoe County, TN registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 59.1 — 1008th 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 44th of 95 counties. Among its 5 neighboring counties, 3 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Bledsoe County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 82.4 — worse than roughly 82% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 82.4
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 82
Structural Poverty 75.6
Unemployment Rate 19
Poverty Rate 90
Income vs. State Median 79
Child Poverty Rate 87
Disability Rate 95
Transfer Income Dependency 75
Consumer Credit Distress 64.8
Debt in Collections 70
Medical Debt 95
Auto Loan Delinquency 80
Credit Card Delinquency 10
Uninsured Rate 93
Subprime Credit Population 60
Economic Vitality 57.9
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 40
Rent-to-Income Ratio 68
Business Formation Rate 95
House Price Change (YoY) 46
Housing Cost Burden 29.9
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 13
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 53
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 14
Homeownership Rate 23

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Bledsoe County
Bledsoe County, TN 59.1 Elevated —
Sequatchie County, TN 78.0 Serious +18.9
Hamilton County, TN 60.5 Elevated +1.3
Rhea County, TN 59.2 Elevated +0.1
Van Buren County, TN 51.8 Elevated -7.4
Cumberland County, TN 49.2 Normal -9.9

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Bledsoe County
Henry County, TN 59.2 Elevated +0.0
Izard County, AR 59.2 Elevated +0.0
Jennings County, IN 59.2 Elevated +0.1
Rhea County, TN 59.2 Elevated +0.1
Johnston County, OK 59.1 Elevated -0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Bledsoe 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 Bledsoe 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 Bledsoe County, Tennessee?

    Bledsoe County has a County Distress Index score of 59.1 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 1,008th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 44th in Tennessee out of 95 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Bledsoe County?

    The primary driver of distress in Bledsoe County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 82.4 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Bledsoe County compare to neighboring counties?

    Bledsoe County (59.1) can be compared to its 5 neighboring counties: Sequatchie County, TN (78.0); Hamilton County, TN (60.5); Rhea County, TN (59.2).

  • 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). Bledsoe County's score of 59.1 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Bledsoe 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 Bledsoe County?

    Bledsoe County, Tennessee has a population of approximately 15,060 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.