Dyer County, Tennessee

County Distress Index: Serious · 68.2 | 36,498 people · 13th most distressed in Tennessee
American Default Research

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Dyer County, TN shows significant household financial distress with a score of 68.2 — 481st 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 13th of 95 counties. Among its 7 neighboring counties, 4 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Dyer County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 95.3 — worse than roughly 95% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 95.3
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 95
Consumer Credit Distress 79.1
Debt in Collections 83
Medical Debt 65
Auto Loan Delinquency 78
Credit Card Delinquency 88
Uninsured Rate 63
Subprime Credit Population 84
Housing Cost Burden 58.9
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 53
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 60
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 30
Homeownership Rate 89
Structural Poverty 56.3
Unemployment Rate 27
Poverty Rate 77
Income vs. State Median 51
Child Poverty Rate 77
Disability Rate 61
Transfer Income Dependency 49
Economic Vitality 29.9
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 10
Rent-to-Income Ratio 31
Business Formation Rate 90
House Price Change (YoY) 11

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Dyer County
Dyer County, TN 68.2 Serious —
Pemiscot County, MO 87.1 Crisis +18.9
Lauderdale County, TN 79.4 Serious +11.2
Mississippi County, AR 76.8 Serious +8.7
Lake County, TN 71.8 Serious +3.6
Gibson County, TN 64.3 Elevated -3.9
Crockett County, TN 63.8 Elevated -4.4
Obion County, TN 56.9 Elevated -11.3

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Dyer County
Whitley County, KY 68.2 Serious +0.0
Madison County, FL 68.2 Serious -0.0
Columbia County, AR 68.1 Serious -0.1
Delaware County, OK 68.3 Serious +0.1
Bacon County, GA 68.1 Serious -0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Dyer 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 Dyer 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 Dyer County, Tennessee?

    Dyer County has a County Distress Index score of 68.2 out of 100, placing it in the Serious zone. It ranks 481st nationally out of 3,144 counties and 13th in Tennessee out of 95 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Dyer County?

    The primary driver of distress in Dyer County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 95.3 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Dyer County compare to neighboring counties?

    Dyer County (68.2) can be compared to its 7 neighboring counties: Pemiscot County, MO (87.1); Lauderdale County, TN (79.4); Mississippi County, AR (76.8).

  • 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 Serious 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). Dyer County's score of 68.2 sits in the Serious zone (71–86).

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

    Dyer 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 Dyer County?

    Dyer County, Tennessee has a population of approximately 36,498 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.