Grainger County, Tennessee

County Distress Index: Elevated · 54.5 | 24,681 people · 69th most distressed in Tennessee
American Default Research

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

Grainger County, TN registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 54.5 — 1306th 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 69th of 95 counties. It scores lower than all 7 of its neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Grainger County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 83.4 — worse than roughly 83% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 83.4
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 83
Structural Poverty 64.2
Unemployment Rate 34
Poverty Rate 65
Income vs. State Median 53
Child Poverty Rate 68
Disability Rate 91
Transfer Income Dependency 72
Consumer Credit Distress 57.6
Debt in Collections 72
Medical Debt 88
Auto Loan Delinquency 33
Credit Card Delinquency 43
Uninsured Rate 56
Subprime Credit Population 55
Housing Cost Burden 39.3
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 46
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 43
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 22
Homeownership Rate 25
Economic Vitality 37.6
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 12
Rent-to-Income Ratio 37
Business Formation Rate 92
House Price Change (YoY) 65

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Grainger County
Grainger County, TN 54.5 Elevated —
Hancock County, TN 72.7 Serious +18.2
Hamblen County, TN 69.5 Serious +15.0
Claiborne County, TN 64.5 Elevated +10.0
Jefferson County, TN 59.0 Elevated +4.5
Hawkins County, TN 57.9 Elevated +3.4
Union County, TN 57.0 Elevated +2.5
Knox County, TN 55.5 Elevated +1.0

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Grainger County
Scott County, VA 54.5 Elevated -0.0
Scurry County, TX 54.5 Elevated -0.0
Monroe County, KY 54.5 Elevated -0.0
Sabine County, TX 54.5 Elevated -0.0
La Paz County, AZ 54.5 Elevated -0.0

Download Data

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

Find Help in Grainger County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Grainger County.

CLINCH-POWELL RESOURCE CONSERVATION AND DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL, INC
Rutledge
865-828-5927 Website
Foreclosure PreventionFinancial CounselingFinancial CounselingHome Improvement/Rehab

See all counselors in Tennessee →

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 Grainger 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 Grainger County, Tennessee?

    Grainger County has a County Distress Index score of 54.5 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 1,306th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 69th in Tennessee out of 95 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Grainger County?

    The primary driver of distress in Grainger County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 83.4 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Grainger County compare to neighboring counties?

    Grainger County (54.5) can be compared to its 7 neighboring counties: Hancock County, TN (72.7); Hamblen County, TN (69.5); Claiborne County, TN (64.5).

  • 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). Grainger County's score of 54.5 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Grainger 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 Grainger County?

    Grainger County, Tennessee has a population of approximately 24,681 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.