Jefferson County, Tennessee

County Distress Index: Elevated · 59.0 | 57,838 people · 45th most distressed in Tennessee
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Jefferson County, TN registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 59.0 — 1021st 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 45th of 95 counties. Among its 5 neighboring counties, 3 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Jefferson County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 88.1 — worse than roughly 88% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 88.1
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 88
Consumer Credit Distress 64.1
Debt in Collections 68
Medical Debt 88
Auto Loan Delinquency 44
Credit Card Delinquency 58
Uninsured Rate 62
Subprime Credit Population 67
Economic Vitality 50.5
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 46
Rent-to-Income Ratio 56
Business Formation Rate 57
House Price Change (YoY) 46
Structural Poverty 49.7
Unemployment Rate 30
Poverty Rate 45
Income vs. State Median 31
Child Poverty Rate 51
Disability Rate 78
Transfer Income Dependency 63
Housing Cost Burden 47.7
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 49
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 47
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 37
Homeownership Rate 52

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Jefferson County
Jefferson County, TN 59.0 Elevated —
Cocke County, TN 75.1 Serious +16.1
Hamblen County, TN 69.5 Serious +10.5
Knox County, TN 55.5 Elevated -3.5
Sevier County, TN 55.0 Elevated -3.9
Grainger County, TN 54.5 Elevated -4.5

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Jefferson County
Chemung County, NY 58.9 Elevated -0.1
Catoosa County, GA 59.1 Elevated +0.1
Lafourche Parish, LA 59.1 Elevated +0.1
Yuma County, AZ 59.1 Elevated +0.1
Clark County, IN 59.1 Elevated +0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Jefferson 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 Jefferson 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 Jefferson County, Tennessee?

    Jefferson County has a County Distress Index score of 59.0 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 1,021st nationally out of 3,144 counties and 45th in Tennessee out of 95 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Jefferson County?

    The primary driver of distress in Jefferson County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 88.1 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Jefferson County compare to neighboring counties?

    Jefferson County (59.0) can be compared to its 5 neighboring counties: Cocke County, TN (75.1); Hamblen County, TN (69.5); Knox County, TN (55.5).

  • 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). Jefferson County's score of 59.0 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Jefferson 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 Jefferson County?

    Jefferson County, Tennessee has a population of approximately 57,838 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.