Hamblen County, Tennessee

County Distress Index: Serious · 69.5 | 66,216 people · 10th most distressed in Tennessee
American Default Research

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Hamblen County, TN shows significant household financial distress with a score of 69.5 — 417th 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 10th of 95 counties. Among its 5 neighboring counties, 4 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Hamblen County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 89.3 — worse than roughly 89% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 89.3
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 89
Consumer Credit Distress 73.2
Debt in Collections 81
Medical Debt 99
Auto Loan Delinquency 63
Credit Card Delinquency 57
Uninsured Rate 84
Subprime Credit Population 66
Economic Vitality 70.0
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 64
Rent-to-Income Ratio 76
Business Formation Rate 74
House Price Change (YoY) 76
Structural Poverty 61.0
Unemployment Rate 38
Poverty Rate 75
Income vs. State Median 58
Child Poverty Rate 68
Disability Rate 79
Transfer Income Dependency 52
Housing Cost Burden 59.8
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 71
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 54
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 18
Homeownership Rate 77

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Hamblen County
Hamblen County, TN 69.5 Serious —
Cocke County, TN 75.1 Serious +5.6
Jefferson County, TN 59.0 Elevated -10.5
Hawkins County, TN 57.9 Elevated -11.5
Greene County, TN 55.8 Elevated -13.6
Grainger County, TN 54.5 Elevated -15.0

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Hamblen County
Taylor County, TX 69.4 Serious -0.1
Wicomico County, MD 69.7 Serious +0.2
Cleveland County, NC 69.7 Serious +0.2
Garland County, AR 69.7 Serious +0.2
Tom Green County, TX 69.2 Serious -0.3

Download Data

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

Find Help in Hamblen 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 Hamblen 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 Hamblen County, Tennessee?

    Hamblen County has a County Distress Index score of 69.5 out of 100, placing it in the Serious zone. It ranks 417th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 10th in Tennessee out of 95 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Hamblen County?

    The primary driver of distress in Hamblen County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 89.3 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Hamblen County compare to neighboring counties?

    Hamblen County (69.5) can be compared to its 5 neighboring counties: Cocke County, TN (75.1); Jefferson County, TN (59.0); Hawkins County, TN (57.9).

  • 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 Serious 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). Hamblen County's score of 69.5 sits in the Serious zone (71–86).

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

    Hamblen 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 Hamblen County?

    Hamblen County, Tennessee has a population of approximately 66,216 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.