Grundy County, Tennessee

County Distress Index: Elevated · 63.0 | 13,955 people · 26th most distressed in Tennessee
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Grundy County, TN registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 63.0 — 771st nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Structural Poverty, where poverty rates are high, transfer income dependency is elevated, and household incomes lag well behind state and national medians. Within Tennessee, it ranks 26th of 95 counties. Among its 5 neighboring counties, 3 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Grundy County's primary driver is Structural Poverty at 87.9 — worse than roughly 88% of U.S. counties.

Structural Poverty Primary driver 87.9
Unemployment Rate 58
Poverty Rate 92
Income vs. State Median 95
Child Poverty Rate 84
Disability Rate 95
Transfer Income Dependency 93
Legal Distress 78.2
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 78
Economic Vitality 74.6
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 72
Rent-to-Income Ratio 88
Business Formation Rate 68
House Price Change (YoY) 61
Consumer Credit Distress 70.8
Debt in Collections 63
Medical Debt 91
Auto Loan Delinquency 68
Credit Card Delinquency 78
Uninsured Rate 82
Subprime Credit Population 58
Housing Cost Burden 21.3
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 27
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 8
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 67
Homeownership Rate 7

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Grundy County
Grundy County, TN 63.0 Elevated —
Sequatchie County, TN 78.0 Serious +15.1
Marion County, TN 63.7 Elevated +0.7
Coffee County, TN 59.8 Elevated -3.2
Warren County, TN 57.9 Elevated -5.1
Franklin County, TN 49.8 Normal -13.1

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Grundy County
McDowell County, WV 63.0 Elevated -0.0
Madison County, MO 63.0 Elevated +0.0
Sevier County, AR 62.9 Elevated -0.1
Henry County, MO 62.9 Elevated -0.1
Clay County, AR 63.2 Elevated +0.2

Download Data

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

Find Help in Grundy 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 Grundy 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 Grundy County, Tennessee?

    Grundy County has a County Distress Index score of 63.0 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 771st nationally out of 3,144 counties and 26th in Tennessee out of 95 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Grundy County?

    The primary driver of distress in Grundy County is Structural Poverty, where the county scores 87.9 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Unemployment Rate, Poverty Rate, Income vs. State Median.

  • How does Grundy County compare to neighboring counties?

    Grundy County (63.0) can be compared to its 5 neighboring counties: Sequatchie County, TN (78.0); Marion County, TN (63.7); 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 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). Grundy County's score of 63.0 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Grundy 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 Grundy County?

    Grundy County, Tennessee has a population of approximately 13,955 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.