Hickman County, Tennessee

County Distress Index: Elevated · 51.2 | 25,826 people · 76th most distressed in Tennessee
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Hickman County, TN registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 51.2 — 1505th 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 76th of 95 counties. Among its 6 neighboring counties, 4 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Hickman County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 74.0 — above the national median.

Legal Distress Primary driver 74.0
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 74
Structural Poverty 58.0
Unemployment Rate 41
Poverty Rate 67
Income vs. State Median 42
Child Poverty Rate 69
Disability Rate 85
Transfer Income Dependency 53
Consumer Credit Distress 52.8
Debt in Collections 66
Medical Debt 65
Auto Loan Delinquency 24
Credit Card Delinquency 42
Uninsured Rate 63
Subprime Credit Population 61
Economic Vitality 46.1
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 34
Rent-to-Income Ratio 39
Business Formation Rate 82
House Price Change (YoY) 57
Housing Cost Burden 38.4
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 58
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 14
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 66
Homeownership Rate 31

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Hickman County
Hickman County, TN 51.2 Elevated —
Maury County, TN 56.6 Elevated +5.4
Lewis County, TN 56.3 Elevated +5.0
Perry County, TN 54.8 Elevated +3.6
Humphreys County, TN 51.6 Elevated +0.4
Dickson County, TN 45.9 Normal -5.4
Williamson County, TN 21.4 Healthy -29.8

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Hickman County
Sierra County, NM 51.3 Elevated +0.0
Yadkin County, NC 51.2 Elevated -0.0
Nicholas County, WV 51.3 Elevated +0.0
Clinton County, PA 51.3 Elevated +0.1
Noble County, OK 51.3 Elevated +0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Hickman 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 Hickman 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 Hickman County, Tennessee?

    Hickman County has a County Distress Index score of 51.2 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 1,505th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 76th in Tennessee out of 95 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Hickman County?

    The primary driver of distress in Hickman County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 74.0 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Hickman County compare to neighboring counties?

    Hickman County (51.2) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Maury County, TN (56.6); Lewis County, TN (56.3); Perry County, TN (54.8).

  • 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). Hickman County's score of 51.2 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Hickman 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 Hickman County?

    Hickman County, Tennessee has a population of approximately 25,826 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.