Chester County, Tennessee

County Distress Index: Elevated · 57.9 | 17,606 people · 50th most distressed in Tennessee
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Chester County, TN registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 57.9 — 1086th 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 50th 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. Chester County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 95.0 — worse than roughly 95% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 95.0
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 95
Economic Vitality 73.4
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 91
Rent-to-Income Ratio 67
Business Formation Rate 72
House Price Change (YoY) 5
Consumer Credit Distress 66.6
Debt in Collections 56
Medical Debt 55
Auto Loan Delinquency 89
Credit Card Delinquency 60
Uninsured Rate 60
Subprime Credit Population 74
Structural Poverty 45.3
Unemployment Rate 55
Poverty Rate 71
Income vs. State Median 23
Child Poverty Rate 66
Disability Rate 8
Transfer Income Dependency 56
Housing Cost Burden 28.3
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 22
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 29
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 35
Homeownership Rate 38

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Chester County
Chester County, TN 57.9 Elevated —
Hardeman County, TN 77.8 Serious +20.0
Madison County, TN 76.4 Serious +18.5
Hardin County, TN 62.1 Elevated +4.2
McNairy County, TN 59.5 Elevated +1.7
Henderson County, TN 57.8 Elevated -0.1

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Chester County
Jackson County, OK 57.9 Elevated 0.0
Henry County, AL 57.9 Elevated +0.0
Dallas County, MO 57.8 Elevated -0.0
Warren County, TN 57.9 Elevated +0.1
Lewis County, WV 57.9 Elevated +0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Chester 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 Chester 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 Chester County, Tennessee?

    Chester County has a County Distress Index score of 57.9 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 1,086th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 50th in Tennessee out of 95 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Chester County?

    The primary driver of distress in Chester County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 95.0 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Chester County compare to neighboring counties?

    Chester County (57.9) can be compared to its 5 neighboring counties: Hardeman County, TN (77.8); Madison County, TN (76.4); Hardin County, TN (62.1).

  • 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 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). Chester County's score of 57.9 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Chester 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 Chester County?

    Chester County, Tennessee has a population of approximately 17,606 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.