Franklin County, Tennessee

County Distress Index: Normal · 49.8 | 44,654 people · 82nd most distressed in Tennessee
American Default Research

Behind on your mortgage or facing eviction? Take a 2-minute assessment to see your options.

Franklin County, TN falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 49.8 — 1585th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Consumer Credit Distress, where debt and delinquency levels sit above the national average. Within Tennessee, it ranks 82nd of 95 counties. Among its 7 neighboring counties, 6 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Franklin County's primary driver is Consumer Credit Distress at 60.5 — above the national median.

Consumer Credit Distress Primary driver 60.5
Debt in Collections 62
Medical Debt 83
Auto Loan Delinquency 49
Credit Card Delinquency 72
Uninsured Rate 53
Subprime Credit Population 47
Legal Distress 57.4
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 57
Structural Poverty 49.1
Unemployment Rate 49
Poverty Rate 45
Income vs. State Median 26
Child Poverty Rate 57
Disability Rate 77
Transfer Income Dependency 51
Economic Vitality 33.6
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 23
Rent-to-Income Ratio 22
Business Formation Rate 82
House Price Change (YoY) 30
Housing Cost Burden 31.8
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 35
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 21
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 49
Homeownership Rate 39

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Franklin County
Franklin County, TN 49.8 Normal —
Marion County, TN 63.7 Elevated +13.8
Grundy County, TN 63.0 Elevated +13.1
Coffee County, TN 59.8 Elevated +10.0
Jackson County, AL 55.1 Elevated +5.3
Lincoln County, TN 53.3 Elevated +3.4
Madison County, AL 52.3 Elevated +2.5
Moore County, TN 37.7 Normal -12.2

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Franklin County
Custer County, MT 49.9 Normal +0.0
Jefferson County, IA 49.8 Normal -0.1
Comanche County, TX 49.8 Normal -0.1
Mariposa County, CA 49.9 Normal +0.1
Graham County, AZ 50.0 Normal +0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Franklin 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 Franklin 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.

Need legal help? Find a foreclosure defense attorney in Tennessee →

Continue Reading

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the distress score for Franklin County, Tennessee?

    Franklin County has a County Distress Index score of 49.8 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 1,585th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 82nd in Tennessee out of 95 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Franklin County?

    The primary driver of distress in Franklin County is Consumer Credit Distress, where the county scores 60.5 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Debt in Collections, Medical Debt, Auto Loan Delinquency.

  • How does Franklin County compare to neighboring counties?

    Franklin County (49.8) can be compared to its 7 neighboring counties: Marion County, TN (63.7); Grundy County, TN (63.0); Coffee County, TN (59.8).

  • 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 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). Franklin County's score of 49.8 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Franklin 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 Franklin County?

    Franklin County, Tennessee has a population of approximately 44,654 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.