Gibson County, Tennessee

County Distress Index: Elevated · 64.3 | 51,045 people · 21st most distressed in Tennessee
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Gibson County, TN registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 64.3 — 689th 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 21st of 95 counties. Its score is in the middle of its 6 neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Gibson County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 96.0 — worse than roughly 96% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 96.0
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 96
Consumer Credit Distress 70.2
Debt in Collections 72
Medical Debt 60
Auto Loan Delinquency 75
Credit Card Delinquency 66
Uninsured Rate 63
Subprime Credit Population 76
Structural Poverty 59.9
Unemployment Rate 45
Poverty Rate 59
Income vs. State Median 50
Child Poverty Rate 57
Disability Rate 82
Transfer Income Dependency 65
Housing Cost Burden 53.1
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 59
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 41
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 35
Homeownership Rate 80
Economic Vitality 42.3
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 28
Rent-to-Income Ratio 31
Business Formation Rate 73
House Price Change (YoY) 90

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Gibson County
Gibson County, TN 64.3 Elevated —
Madison County, TN 76.4 Serious +12.1
Dyer County, TN 68.2 Serious +3.9
Carroll County, TN 67.4 Serious +3.1
Crockett County, TN 63.8 Elevated -0.5
Weakley County, TN 60.0 Elevated -4.3
Obion County, TN 56.9 Elevated -7.4

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Gibson County
Butte County, CA 64.2 Elevated -0.1
Tehama County, CA 64.4 Elevated +0.1
Clay County, FL 64.2 Elevated -0.1
Rutherford County, NC 64.2 Elevated -0.1
Onslow County, NC 64.2 Elevated -0.2

Download Data

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

Find Help in Gibson 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 Gibson 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 Gibson County, Tennessee?

    Gibson County has a County Distress Index score of 64.3 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 689th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 21st in Tennessee out of 95 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Gibson County?

    The primary driver of distress in Gibson County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 96.0 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Gibson County compare to neighboring counties?

    Gibson County (64.3) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Madison County, TN (76.4); Dyer County, TN (68.2); Carroll County, TN (67.4).

  • 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). Gibson County's score of 64.3 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Gibson 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 Gibson County?

    Gibson County, Tennessee has a population of approximately 51,045 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.