Cheatham County, Tennessee

County Distress Index: Normal · 45.0 | 42,254 people · 90th most distressed in Tennessee
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Cheatham County, TN falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 45.0 — 1898th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Economic Vitality, where wages are low relative to housing costs, business formation lags, and the local economy lacks dynamism. Within Tennessee, it ranks 90th of 95 counties. Among its 5 neighboring counties, 4 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Cheatham County's primary driver is Economic Vitality at 76.8 — worse than roughly 77% of U.S. counties.

Economic Vitality Primary driver 76.8
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 91
Rent-to-Income Ratio 81
Business Formation Rate 27
House Price Change (YoY) 87
Legal Distress 64.5
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 65
Consumer Credit Distress 45.8
Debt in Collections 43
Medical Debt 51
Auto Loan Delinquency 45
Credit Card Delinquency 44
Uninsured Rate 61
Subprime Credit Population 41
Housing Cost Burden 39.9
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 38
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 38
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 95
Homeownership Rate 11
Structural Poverty 18.2
Unemployment Rate 10
Poverty Rate 11
Income vs. State Median 6
Child Poverty Rate 21
Disability Rate 44
Transfer Income Dependency 20

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Cheatham County
Cheatham County, TN 45.0 Normal —
Montgomery County, TN 68.5 Serious +23.5
Davidson County, TN 63.9 Elevated +18.9
Robertson County, TN 57.1 Elevated +12.1
Dickson County, TN 45.9 Normal +0.9
Williamson County, TN 21.4 Healthy -23.6

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Cheatham County
Preble County, OH 44.9 Normal -0.0
Texas County, OK 45.0 Normal +0.0
Venango County, PA 44.9 Normal -0.1
Webster County, MO 44.9 Normal -0.1
Llano County, TX 44.8 Normal -0.2

Download Data

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

Find Help in Cheatham 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 Cheatham 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 Cheatham County, Tennessee?

    Cheatham County has a County Distress Index score of 45.0 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 1,898th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 90th in Tennessee out of 95 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Cheatham County?

    The primary driver of distress in Cheatham County is Economic Vitality, where the county scores 76.8 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Wage-to-Rent Ratio, Rent-to-Income Ratio, Business Formation Rate.

  • How does Cheatham County compare to neighboring counties?

    Cheatham County (45.0) can be compared to its 5 neighboring counties: Montgomery County, TN (68.5); Davidson County, TN (63.9); Robertson County, TN (57.1).

  • 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 Normal 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). Cheatham County's score of 45.0 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Cheatham 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 Cheatham County?

    Cheatham County, Tennessee has a population of approximately 42,254 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.