Coffee County, Tennessee

County Distress Index: Elevated · 59.8 | 60,633 people · 40th most distressed in Tennessee
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Coffee County, TN registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 59.8 — 965th 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 40th of 95 counties. Among its 7 neighboring counties, 4 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Coffee County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 90.5 — worse than roughly 91% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 90.5
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 90
Consumer Credit Distress 69.5
Debt in Collections 76
Medical Debt 84
Auto Loan Delinquency 55
Credit Card Delinquency 69
Uninsured Rate 66
Subprime Credit Population 68
Structural Poverty 50.2
Unemployment Rate 38
Poverty Rate 58
Income vs. State Median 24
Child Poverty Rate 58
Disability Rate 71
Transfer Income Dependency 58
Housing Cost Burden 49.9
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 39
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 53
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 47
Homeownership Rate 70
Economic Vitality 23.5
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 6
Rent-to-Income Ratio 17
Business Formation Rate 64
House Price Change (YoY) 52

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Coffee County
Coffee County, TN 59.8 Elevated —
Bedford County, TN 63.2 Elevated +3.4
Grundy County, TN 63.0 Elevated +3.2
Rutherford County, TN 59.9 Elevated +0.1
Warren County, TN 57.9 Elevated -1.9
Cannon County, TN 52.7 Elevated -7.1
Franklin County, TN 49.8 Normal -10.0
Moore County, TN 37.7 Normal -22.1

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Coffee County
Athens County, OH 59.8 Elevated 0.0
Vanderburgh County, IN 59.8 Elevated -0.0
Isabella County, MI 59.8 Elevated -0.0
Columbiana County, OH 59.7 Elevated -0.1
Lackawanna County, PA 59.7 Elevated -0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Coffee 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 Coffee 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 Coffee County, Tennessee?

    Coffee County has a County Distress Index score of 59.8 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 965th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 40th in Tennessee out of 95 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Coffee County?

    The primary driver of distress in Coffee County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 90.5 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Coffee County compare to neighboring counties?

    Coffee County (59.8) can be compared to its 7 neighboring counties: Bedford County, TN (63.2); Grundy County, TN (63.0); Rutherford County, TN (59.9).

  • 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 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). Coffee County's score of 59.8 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Coffee 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 Coffee County?

    Coffee County, Tennessee has a population of approximately 60,633 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.