Hamilton County, Tennessee

County Distress Index: Elevated · 60.5 | 379,864 people · 35th most distressed in Tennessee
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Hamilton County, TN registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 60.5 — 920th 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 35th of 95 counties. Its score is in the middle of its 10 neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Hamilton County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 93.8 — worse than roughly 94% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 93.8
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 94
Housing Cost Burden 71.0
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 75
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 69
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 43
Homeownership Rate 86
Consumer Credit Distress 60.3
Debt in Collections 58
Medical Debt 83
Auto Loan Delinquency 62
Credit Card Delinquency 47
Uninsured Rate 62
Subprime Credit Population 57
Economic Vitality 53.8
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 53
Rent-to-Income Ratio 65
Business Formation Rate 28
House Price Change (YoY) 75
Structural Poverty 30.4
Unemployment Rate 30
Poverty Rate 45
Income vs. State Median 12
Child Poverty Rate 56
Disability Rate 35
Transfer Income Dependency 19

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Hamilton County
Hamilton County, TN 60.5 Elevated —
Sequatchie County, TN 78.0 Serious +17.6
Walker County, GA 73.4 Serious +12.9
Bradley County, TN 66.3 Serious +5.9
Whitfield County, GA 64.1 Elevated +3.6
Marion County, TN 63.7 Elevated +3.2
Meigs County, TN 60.1 Elevated -0.4
Rhea County, TN 59.2 Elevated -1.3
Bledsoe County, TN 59.1 Elevated -1.3
Catoosa County, GA 59.1 Elevated -1.4
Dade County, GA 53.8 Elevated -6.7

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Hamilton County
Alachua County, FL 60.5 Elevated -0.0
Winnebago County, IL 60.4 Elevated -0.1
San Joaquin County, CA 60.6 Elevated +0.1
Adams County, CO 60.3 Elevated -0.2
Hamilton County, OH 60.1 Elevated -0.4

Download Data

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

Find Help in Hamilton County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Hamilton County.

CCCS OF ROCHESTER-CHATTANOOGA
Chattanooga
423-490-5620
Foreclosure PreventionFinancial CounselingFinancial CounselingPost-Purchase
CHATTANOOGA NEIGHBORHOOD ENTERPRISE, INC.
Chattanooga
423-756-6201
Foreclosure PreventionPre-PurchaseHomebuyer EducationRental Help

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 Hamilton 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 →

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the distress score for Hamilton County, Tennessee?

    Hamilton County has a County Distress Index score of 60.5 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 920th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 35th in Tennessee out of 95 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Hamilton County?

    The primary driver of distress in Hamilton County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 93.8 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Hamilton County compare to neighboring counties?

    Hamilton County (60.5) can be compared to its 10 neighboring counties: Sequatchie County, TN (78.0); Walker County, GA (73.4); Bradley County, TN (66.3).

  • 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). Hamilton County's score of 60.5 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Hamilton 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 Hamilton County?

    Hamilton County, Tennessee has a population of approximately 379,864 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a large county.