Knox County, Tennessee

County Distress Index: Elevated · 55.5 | 500,669 people · 64th most distressed in Tennessee
American Default Research

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Knox County, TN registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 55.5 — 1236th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Housing Cost Burden, where a large share of households spend more than 30% of income on housing. Within Tennessee, it ranks 64th of 95 counties. Among its 8 neighboring counties, 5 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Knox County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 77.4 — worse than roughly 77% of U.S. counties.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 77.4
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 83
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 77
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 52
Homeownership Rate 85
Legal Distress 63.4
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 63
Economic Vitality 61.2
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 66
Rent-to-Income Ratio 80
Business Formation Rate 19
House Price Change (YoY) 60
Consumer Credit Distress 52.2
Debt in Collections 53
Medical Debt 84
Auto Loan Delinquency 51
Credit Card Delinquency 37
Uninsured Rate 53
Subprime Credit Population 44
Structural Poverty 23.4
Unemployment Rate 13
Poverty Rate 52
Income vs. State Median 15
Child Poverty Rate 39
Disability Rate 19
Transfer Income Dependency 11

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Knox County
Knox County, TN 55.5 Elevated —
Anderson County, TN 59.9 Elevated +4.4
Jefferson County, TN 59.0 Elevated +3.5
Union County, TN 57.0 Elevated +1.5
Sevier County, TN 55.0 Elevated -0.5
Grainger County, TN 54.5 Elevated -1.0
Roane County, TN 51.0 Elevated -4.6
Blount County, TN 49.4 Normal -6.1
Loudon County, TN 43.1 Normal -12.5

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Knox County
Charleston County, SC 55.5 Elevated 0.0
Virginia Beach city, VA 55.5 Elevated +0.0
Henrico County, VA 55.5 Elevated -0.0
Mercer County, NJ 55.4 Elevated -0.1
Fayette County, KY 55.8 Elevated +0.3

Download Data

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

Find Help in Knox County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Knox County.

KNOX HOUSING PARTNERSHIP, INCORPORATED dba HOMESOURCE EAST TENNESSEE
Knoxville
865-637-1679 Website
Foreclosure PreventionFinancial CounselingPost-PurchasePre-Purchase
KNOXVILLE AREA URBAN LEAGUE
Knoxville
865-524-5511 Website
Foreclosure PreventionFinancial CounselingFinancial CounselingPost-Purchase
UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE EXTENSION OFFICE
Knoxville
865-974-7349
Foreclosure PreventionPre-PurchaseHomebuyer EducationRental Help

See all counselors in Tennessee →

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 Knox 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.

Need legal help? Find a foreclosure defense attorney in Tennessee →

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the distress score for Knox County, Tennessee?

    Knox County has a County Distress Index score of 55.5 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 1,236th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 64th in Tennessee out of 95 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Knox County?

    The primary driver of distress in Knox County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 77.4 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Knox County compare to neighboring counties?

    Knox County (55.5) can be compared to its 8 neighboring counties: Anderson County, TN (59.9); Jefferson County, TN (59.0); Union County, TN (57.0).

  • 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). Knox County's score of 55.5 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Knox 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 Knox County?

    Knox County, Tennessee has a population of approximately 500,669 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a large county.