Haywood County, Tennessee

County Distress Index: Serious · 79.5 | 17,328 people · 2nd most distressed in Tennessee
American Default Research

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Haywood County, TN shows significant household financial distress with a score of 79.5 — 75th 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 2nd of 95 counties. It scores higher than all 6 of its neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Haywood County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 95.0 — worse than roughly 95% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 95.0
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 95
Consumer Credit Distress 89.2
Debt in Collections 90
Medical Debt 74
Auto Loan Delinquency 95
Credit Card Delinquency 95
Uninsured Rate 72
Subprime Credit Population 95
Structural Poverty 81.0
Unemployment Rate 13
Poverty Rate 89
Income vs. State Median 95
Child Poverty Rate 89
Disability Rate 95
Transfer Income Dependency 87
Housing Cost Burden 68.8
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 71
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 65
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 38
Homeownership Rate 95
Economic Vitality 41.6
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 5
Rent-to-Income Ratio 85
Business Formation Rate 42
House Price Change (YoY) 95

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Haywood County
Haywood County, TN 79.5 Serious —
Lauderdale County, TN 79.4 Serious -0.1
Hardeman County, TN 77.8 Serious -1.7
Madison County, TN 76.4 Serious -3.2
Crockett County, TN 63.8 Elevated -15.8
Tipton County, TN 62.2 Elevated -17.3
Fayette County, TN 51.1 Elevated -28.4

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Haywood County
Upson County, GA 79.6 Serious +0.0
Marshall County, MS 79.7 Serious +0.1
Lauderdale County, TN 79.4 Serious -0.1
Desha County, AR 79.8 Serious +0.2
Miller County, AR 79.3 Serious -0.3

Download Data

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

Find Help in Haywood 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 Haywood 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 Haywood County, Tennessee?

    Haywood County has a County Distress Index score of 79.5 out of 100, placing it in the Serious zone. It ranks 75th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 2nd in Tennessee out of 95 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Haywood County?

    The primary driver of distress in Haywood County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 95.0 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Haywood County compare to neighboring counties?

    Haywood County (79.5) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Lauderdale County, TN (79.4); Hardeman County, TN (77.8); Madison County, TN (76.4).

  • 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). Haywood County's score of 79.5 sits in the Serious zone (71–86).

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

    Haywood 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 Haywood County?

    Haywood County, Tennessee has a population of approximately 17,328 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.