Carter County, Tennessee

County Distress Index: Serious · 66.2 | 57,022 people · 16th most distressed in Tennessee
American Default Research

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Carter County, TN shows significant household financial distress with a score of 66.2 — 595th 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 16th of 95 counties. It scores higher than all 6 of its neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Carter County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 84.5 — worse than roughly 85% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 84.5
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 85
Economic Vitality 79.9
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 74
Rent-to-Income Ratio 91
Business Formation Rate 94
House Price Change (YoY) 50
Structural Poverty 76.7
Unemployment Rate 45
Poverty Rate 72
Income vs. State Median 85
Child Poverty Rate 73
Disability Rate 91
Transfer Income Dependency 82
Consumer Credit Distress 73.5
Debt in Collections 79
Medical Debt 87
Auto Loan Delinquency 68
Credit Card Delinquency 63
Uninsured Rate 81
Subprime Credit Population 70
Housing Cost Burden 32.2
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 24
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 34
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 22
Homeownership Rate 52

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Carter County
Carter County, TN 66.2 Serious —
Unicoi County, TN 62.3 Elevated -3.9
Sullivan County, TN 58.0 Elevated -8.1
Washington County, TN 57.9 Elevated -8.3
Johnson County, TN 56.8 Elevated -9.4
Avery County, NC 42.5 Normal -23.6
Mitchell County, NC 39.7 Normal -26.4

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Carter County
Buchanan County, MO 66.3 Serious +0.1
Laurens County, SC 66.3 Serious +0.1
Trumbull County, OH 66.0 Serious -0.1
Wayne County, IN 66.3 Serious +0.1
Bradley County, TN 66.3 Serious +0.2

Download Data

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

Find Help in Carter 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 Carter 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 Carter County, Tennessee?

    Carter County has a County Distress Index score of 66.2 out of 100, placing it in the Serious zone. It ranks 595th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 16th in Tennessee out of 95 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Carter County?

    The primary driver of distress in Carter County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 84.5 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Carter County compare to neighboring counties?

    Carter County (66.2) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Unicoi County, TN (62.3); Sullivan County, TN (58.0); Washington County, TN (57.9).

  • 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). Carter County's score of 66.2 sits in the Serious zone (71–86).

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

    Carter 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 Carter County?

    Carter County, Tennessee has a population of approximately 57,022 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.