Hardeman County, Tennessee

County Distress Index: Serious · 77.8 | 25,567 people · 5th most distressed in Tennessee
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Hardeman County, TN shows significant household financial distress with a score of 77.8 — 109th 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 5th of 95 counties. Among its 8 neighboring counties, 7 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Hardeman County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 98.8 — worse than roughly 99% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 98.8
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 99
Structural Poverty 88.5
Unemployment Rate 78
Poverty Rate 90
Income vs. State Median 88
Child Poverty Rate 90
Disability Rate 88
Transfer Income Dependency 93
Consumer Credit Distress 84.2
Debt in Collections 85
Medical Debt 63
Auto Loan Delinquency 93
Credit Card Delinquency 97
Uninsured Rate 52
Subprime Credit Population 90
Housing Cost Burden 69.9
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 76
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 71
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 55
Homeownership Rate 66
Economic Vitality 32.0
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 17
Rent-to-Income Ratio 69
Business Formation Rate 6
House Price Change (YoY) 46

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Hardeman County
Hardeman County, TN 77.8 Serious —
Haywood County, TN 79.5 Serious +1.7
Madison County, TN 76.4 Serious -1.5
Benton County, MS 66.7 Serious -11.1
Alcorn County, MS 66.3 Serious -11.5
Tippah County, MS 63.7 Elevated -14.2
McNairy County, TN 59.5 Elevated -18.3
Chester County, TN 57.9 Elevated -20.0
Fayette County, TN 51.1 Elevated -26.7

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Hardeman County
Avoyelles Parish, LA 77.8 Serious -0.0
Early County, GA 77.9 Serious +0.1
Bradford County, FL 78.0 Serious +0.1
Burke County, GA 78.0 Serious +0.1
Hendry County, FL 77.7 Serious -0.2

Download Data

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

Find Help in Hardeman 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 Hardeman 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 Hardeman County, Tennessee?

    Hardeman County has a County Distress Index score of 77.8 out of 100, placing it in the Serious zone. It ranks 109th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 5th in Tennessee out of 95 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Hardeman County?

    The primary driver of distress in Hardeman County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 98.8 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Hardeman County compare to neighboring counties?

    Hardeman County (77.8) can be compared to its 8 neighboring counties: Haywood County, TN (79.5); Madison County, TN (76.4); Benton County, MS (66.7).

  • 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). Hardeman County's score of 77.8 sits in the Serious zone (71–86).

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

    Hardeman 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 Hardeman County?

    Hardeman County, Tennessee has a population of approximately 25,567 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.