DeKalb County, Tennessee

County Distress Index: Elevated · 62.4 | 21,225 people · 27th most distressed in Tennessee
American Default Research

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DeKalb County, TN registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 62.4 — 809th 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 27th 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. DeKalb County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 70.7 — above the national median.

Legal Distress Primary driver 70.7
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 71
Housing Cost Burden 70.6
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 88
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 62
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 36
Homeownership Rate 74
Structural Poverty 62.6
Unemployment Rate 52
Poverty Rate 69
Income vs. State Median 48
Child Poverty Rate 70
Disability Rate 88
Transfer Income Dependency 57
Consumer Credit Distress 61.9
Debt in Collections 66
Medical Debt 64
Auto Loan Delinquency 65
Credit Card Delinquency 56
Uninsured Rate 53
Subprime Credit Population 62
Economic Vitality 38.3
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 35
Rent-to-Income Ratio 36
Business Formation Rate 40
House Price Change (YoY) 57

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. DeKalb County
DeKalb County, TN 62.4 Elevated —
Putnam County, TN 60.6 Elevated -1.8
Warren County, TN 57.9 Elevated -4.5
White County, TN 56.6 Elevated -5.8
Cannon County, TN 52.7 Elevated -9.7
Smith County, TN 45.2 Normal -17.2
Wilson County, TN 42.9 Normal -19.5

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. DeKalb County
Dale County, AL 62.4 Elevated 0.0
Hart County, GA 62.4 Elevated -0.0
Jones County, GA 62.4 Elevated +0.0
Del Norte County, CA 62.3 Elevated -0.1
Unicoi County, TN 62.3 Elevated -0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in DeKalb 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 DeKalb 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 DeKalb County, Tennessee?

    DeKalb County has a County Distress Index score of 62.4 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 809th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 27th in Tennessee out of 95 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in DeKalb County?

    The primary driver of distress in DeKalb County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 70.7 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does DeKalb County compare to neighboring counties?

    DeKalb County (62.4) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Putnam County, TN (60.6); Warren County, TN (57.9); White County, TN (56.6).

  • 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). DeKalb County's score of 62.4 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    DeKalb 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 DeKalb County?

    DeKalb County, Tennessee has a population of approximately 21,225 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.