Bradley County, Tennessee

County Distress Index: Serious · 66.3 | 111,579 people · 15th most distressed in Tennessee
American Default Research

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Bradley County, TN shows significant household financial distress with a score of 66.3 — 585th 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 15th of 95 counties. Among its 6 neighboring counties, 5 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Bradley County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 96.2 — worse than roughly 96% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 96.2
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 96
Consumer Credit Distress 67.2
Debt in Collections 72
Medical Debt 90
Auto Loan Delinquency 56
Credit Card Delinquency 59
Uninsured Rate 67
Subprime Credit Population 63
Economic Vitality 66.5
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 67
Rent-to-Income Ratio 74
Business Formation Rate 62
House Price Change (YoY) 50
Housing Cost Burden 65.4
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 69
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 61
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 48
Homeownership Rate 79
Structural Poverty 48.5
Unemployment Rate 41
Poverty Rate 61
Income vs. State Median 35
Child Poverty Rate 58
Disability Rate 61
Transfer Income Dependency 43

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Bradley County
Bradley County, TN 66.3 Serious —
Murray County, GA 67.2 Serious +0.9
Whitfield County, GA 64.1 Elevated -2.2
Polk County, TN 61.5 Elevated -4.8
McMinn County, TN 61.4 Elevated -4.9
Hamilton County, TN 60.5 Elevated -5.9
Meigs County, TN 60.1 Elevated -6.2

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Bradley County
Wayne County, IN 66.3 Serious -0.0
Klamath County, OR 66.4 Serious +0.0
Laurens County, SC 66.3 Serious -0.1
Buchanan County, MO 66.3 Serious -0.1
Citrus County, FL 66.4 Serious +0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Bradley 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 Bradley 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 Bradley County, Tennessee?

    Bradley County has a County Distress Index score of 66.3 out of 100, placing it in the Serious zone. It ranks 585th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 15th in Tennessee out of 95 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Bradley County?

    The primary driver of distress in Bradley County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 96.2 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Bradley County compare to neighboring counties?

    Bradley County (66.3) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Murray County, GA (67.2); Whitfield County, GA (64.1); Polk County, TN (61.5).

  • 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). Bradley County's score of 66.3 sits in the Serious zone (71–86).

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

    Bradley 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 Bradley County?

    Bradley County, Tennessee has a population of approximately 111,579 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.