Hardin County, Tennessee

County Distress Index: Elevated · 62.1 | 27,229 people · 30th most distressed in Tennessee
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Hardin County, TN registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 62.1 — 822nd 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 30th 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. Hardin County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 91.1 — worse than roughly 91% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 91.1
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 91
Structural Poverty 75.7
Unemployment Rate 49
Poverty Rate 85
Income vs. State Median 84
Child Poverty Rate 78
Disability Rate 69
Transfer Income Dependency 80
Consumer Credit Distress 69.8
Debt in Collections 62
Medical Debt 60
Auto Loan Delinquency 76
Credit Card Delinquency 76
Uninsured Rate 82
Subprime Credit Population 69
Economic Vitality 48.1
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 22
Rent-to-Income Ratio 64
Business Formation Rate 94
House Price Change (YoY) 43
Housing Cost Burden 33.5
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 36
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 39
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 12
Homeownership Rate 29

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Hardin County
Hardin County, TN 62.1 Elevated —
Alcorn County, MS 66.3 Serious +4.2
McNairy County, TN 59.5 Elevated -2.6
Wayne County, TN 58.9 Elevated -3.2
Tishomingo County, MS 58.1 Elevated -4.0
Chester County, TN 57.9 Elevated -4.2
Henderson County, TN 57.8 Elevated -4.3
Lauderdale County, AL 56.6 Elevated -5.5
Decatur County, TN 49.1 Normal -13.0

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Hardin County
Ward County, TX 62.0 Elevated -0.1
Oglala Lakota County, SD 62.2 Elevated +0.1
Hot Spring County, AR 62.0 Elevated -0.1
Jackson County, TX 62.0 Elevated -0.1
Perry County, MS 62.0 Elevated -0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Hardin 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 Hardin 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 Hardin County, Tennessee?

    Hardin County has a County Distress Index score of 62.1 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 822nd nationally out of 3,144 counties and 30th in Tennessee out of 95 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Hardin County?

    The primary driver of distress in Hardin County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 91.1 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Hardin County compare to neighboring counties?

    Hardin County (62.1) can be compared to its 8 neighboring counties: Alcorn County, MS (66.3); McNairy County, TN (59.5); Wayne County, TN (58.9).

  • 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 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). Hardin County's score of 62.1 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Hardin 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 Hardin County?

    Hardin County, Tennessee has a population of approximately 27,229 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.