Giles County, Tennessee

County Distress Index: Elevated · 53.4 | 30,721 people · 70th most distressed in Tennessee
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Giles County, TN registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 53.4 — 1378th 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 70th 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. Giles County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 86.3 — worse than roughly 86% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 86.3
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 86
Structural Poverty 59.3
Unemployment Rate 72
Poverty Rate 63
Income vs. State Median 39
Child Poverty Rate 69
Disability Rate 55
Transfer Income Dependency 66
Consumer Credit Distress 59.2
Debt in Collections 60
Medical Debt 77
Auto Loan Delinquency 47
Credit Card Delinquency 55
Uninsured Rate 55
Subprime Credit Population 62
Economic Vitality 45.6
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 36
Rent-to-Income Ratio 38
Business Formation Rate 80
House Price Change (YoY) 50
Housing Cost Burden 29.6
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 21
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 29
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 29
Homeownership Rate 52

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Giles County
Giles County, TN 53.4 Elevated —
Lawrence County, TN 56.9 Elevated +3.5
Maury County, TN 56.6 Elevated +3.3
Lauderdale County, AL 56.6 Elevated +3.2
Lincoln County, TN 53.3 Elevated -0.1
Marshall County, TN 49.3 Normal -4.1
Limestone County, AL 44.2 Normal -9.2

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Giles County
Sullivan County, IN 53.4 Elevated 0.0
Jackson County, NC 53.4 Elevated +0.0
Manassas city, VA 53.5 Elevated +0.1
Smith County, MS 53.5 Elevated +0.1
Lincoln County, TN 53.3 Elevated -0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Giles 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 Giles 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 Giles County, Tennessee?

    Giles County has a County Distress Index score of 53.4 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 1,378th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 70th in Tennessee out of 95 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Giles County?

    The primary driver of distress in Giles County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 86.3 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Giles County compare to neighboring counties?

    Giles County (53.4) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Lawrence County, TN (56.9); Maury County, TN (56.6); Lauderdale County, AL (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). Giles County's score of 53.4 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Giles 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 Giles County?

    Giles County, Tennessee has a population of approximately 30,721 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.