Jackson County, Tennessee

County Distress Index: Elevated · 61.0 | 12,363 people · 33rd most distressed in Tennessee
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Jackson County, TN registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 61.0 — 887th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Structural Poverty, where poverty rates are high, transfer income dependency is elevated, and household incomes lag well behind state and national medians. Within Tennessee, it ranks 33rd of 95 counties. Among its 5 neighboring counties, 4 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Jackson County's primary driver is Structural Poverty at 82.4 — worse than roughly 82% of U.S. counties.

Structural Poverty Primary driver 82.4
Unemployment Rate 49
Poverty Rate 86
Income vs. State Median 86
Child Poverty Rate 86
Disability Rate 95
Transfer Income Dependency 85
Legal Distress 77.2
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 77
Consumer Credit Distress 58.3
Debt in Collections 60
Medical Debt 81
Auto Loan Delinquency 50
Credit Card Delinquency 42
Uninsured Rate 58
Subprime Credit Population 61
Housing Cost Burden 52.1
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 54
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 81
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 16
Homeownership Rate 6
Economic Vitality 51.9
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 41
Rent-to-Income Ratio 67
Business Formation Rate 79
House Price Change (YoY) 6

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Jackson County
Jackson County, TN 61.0 Elevated —
Macon County, TN 64.4 Elevated +3.4
Putnam County, TN 60.6 Elevated -0.4
Clay County, TN 54.8 Elevated -6.2
Overton County, TN 52.4 Elevated -8.6
Smith County, TN 45.2 Normal -15.8

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Jackson County
Wayne County, WV 61.0 Elevated +0.0
Beckham County, OK 61.0 Elevated +0.0
Brown County, OH 61.0 Elevated +0.0
Texas County, MO 61.0 Elevated +0.0
Fayette County, OH 61.0 Elevated -0.0

Download Data

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

Find Help in Jackson 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 Jackson 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 Jackson County, Tennessee?

    Jackson County has a County Distress Index score of 61.0 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 887th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 33rd in Tennessee out of 95 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Jackson County?

    The primary driver of distress in Jackson County is Structural Poverty, where the county scores 82.4 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Unemployment Rate, Poverty Rate, Income vs. State Median.

  • How does Jackson County compare to neighboring counties?

    Jackson County (61.0) can be compared to its 5 neighboring counties: Macon County, TN (64.4); Putnam County, TN (60.6); Clay 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). Jackson County's score of 61.0 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Jackson 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 Jackson County?

    Jackson County, Tennessee has a population of approximately 12,363 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.