Dickson County, Tennessee

County Distress Index: Normal · 45.9 | 56,729 people · 88th most distressed in Tennessee
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Dickson County, TN falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 45.9 — 1855th 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 88th of 95 counties. Among its 6 neighboring counties, 4 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Dickson County's primary driver is Economic Vitality at 85.8 — worse than roughly 86% of U.S. counties.

Economic Vitality Primary driver 85.8
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 97
Rent-to-Income Ratio 91
Business Formation Rate 55
House Price Change (YoY) 75
Legal Distress 74.0
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 74
Consumer Credit Distress 46.6
Debt in Collections 51
Medical Debt 71
Auto Loan Delinquency 27
Credit Card Delinquency 28
Uninsured Rate 55
Subprime Credit Population 54
Housing Cost Burden 29.2
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 21
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 29
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 74
Homeownership Rate 18
Structural Poverty 28.2
Unemployment Rate 13
Poverty Rate 20
Income vs. State Median 12
Child Poverty Rate 28
Disability Rate 69
Transfer Income Dependency 32

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Dickson County
Dickson County, TN 45.9 Normal —
Montgomery County, TN 68.5 Serious +22.6
Humphreys County, TN 51.6 Elevated +5.8
Hickman County, TN 51.2 Elevated +5.4
Houston County, TN 50.6 Elevated +4.7
Cheatham County, TN 45.0 Normal -0.9
Williamson County, TN 21.4 Healthy -24.4

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Dickson County
Kennebec County, ME 45.8 Normal -0.0
Strafford County, NH 45.9 Normal +0.0
Tuscola County, MI 45.8 Normal -0.0
Johnson County, MO 45.8 Normal -0.1
Santa Fe County, NM 45.9 Normal +0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Dickson 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 Dickson 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 Dickson County, Tennessee?

    Dickson County has a County Distress Index score of 45.9 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 1,855th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 88th in Tennessee out of 95 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Dickson County?

    The primary driver of distress in Dickson County is Economic Vitality, where the county scores 85.8 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Wage-to-Rent Ratio, Rent-to-Income Ratio, Business Formation Rate.

  • How does Dickson County compare to neighboring counties?

    Dickson County (45.9) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Montgomery County, TN (68.5); Humphreys County, TN (51.6); Hickman County, TN (51.2).

  • 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). Dickson County's score of 45.9 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Dickson 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 Dickson County?

    Dickson County, Tennessee has a population of approximately 56,729 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.