Carroll County, Tennessee

County Distress Index: Serious · 67.4 | 28,860 people · 14th most distressed in Tennessee
American Default Research

Behind on your mortgage or facing eviction? Take a 2-minute assessment to see your options.

Carroll County, TN shows significant household financial distress with a score of 67.4 — 525th 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 14th of 95 counties. Among its 7 neighboring counties, 6 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Carroll County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 86.5 — worse than roughly 87% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 86.5
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 87
Structural Poverty 76.7
Unemployment Rate 61
Poverty Rate 75
Income vs. State Median 77
Child Poverty Rate 69
Disability Rate 81
Transfer Income Dependency 88
Consumer Credit Distress 75.8
Debt in Collections 80
Medical Debt 86
Auto Loan Delinquency 85
Credit Card Delinquency 68
Uninsured Rate 71
Subprime Credit Population 65
Economic Vitality 48.6
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 34
Rent-to-Income Ratio 56
Business Formation Rate 94
House Price Change (YoY) 11
Housing Cost Burden 45.1
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 38
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 63
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 7
Homeownership Rate 48

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Carroll County
Carroll County, TN 67.4 Serious —
Madison County, TN 76.4 Serious +9.0
Gibson County, TN 64.3 Elevated -3.1
Weakley County, TN 60.0 Elevated -7.4
Henry County, TN 59.2 Elevated -8.2
Henderson County, TN 57.8 Elevated -9.6
Benton County, TN 55.1 Elevated -12.3
Decatur County, TN 49.1 Normal -18.2

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Carroll County
Santa Cruz County, AZ 67.4 Serious +0.0
Buckingham County, VA 67.3 Serious -0.1
Murray County, GA 67.2 Serious -0.1
Assumption Parish, LA 67.5 Serious +0.2
De Soto Parish, LA 67.2 Serious -0.2

Download Data

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

Find Help in Carroll 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 Carroll 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.

Need legal help? Find a foreclosure defense attorney in Tennessee →

Continue Reading

Frequently Asked Questions

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

    Carroll County has a County Distress Index score of 67.4 out of 100, placing it in the Serious zone. It ranks 525th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 14th in Tennessee out of 95 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Carroll County?

    The primary driver of distress in Carroll County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 86.5 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Carroll County compare to neighboring counties?

    Carroll County (67.4) can be compared to its 7 neighboring counties: Madison County, TN (76.4); Gibson County, TN (64.3); Weakley County, TN (60.0).

  • 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). Carroll County's score of 67.4 sits in the Serious zone (71–86).

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

    Carroll 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 Carroll County?

    Carroll County, Tennessee has a population of approximately 28,860 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.