Lake County, Tennessee

County Distress Index: Serious · 71.8 | 6,347 people · 9th most distressed in Tennessee
American Default Research

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Lake County, TN shows significant household financial distress with a score of 71.8 — 326th 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 9th 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. Lake County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 93.9 — worse than roughly 94% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 93.9
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 94
Structural Poverty 90.4
Unemployment Rate 58
Poverty Rate 95
Income vs. State Median 95
Child Poverty Rate 95
Disability Rate 95
Transfer Income Dependency 95
Consumer Credit Distress 82.3
Debt in Collections 95
Medical Debt 92
Auto Loan Delinquency 56
Credit Card Delinquency 67
Uninsured Rate 88
Subprime Credit Population 95
Economic Vitality 57.8
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 31
Rent-to-Income Ratio 89
Business Formation Rate 82
House Price Change (YoY) 51
Housing Cost Burden 36.6
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 24
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 33
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 5
Homeownership Rate 95

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Lake County
Lake County, TN 71.8 Serious —
Pemiscot County, MO 87.1 Crisis +15.3
Fulton County, KY 79.9 Serious +8.1
New Madrid County, MO 70.1 Serious -1.7
Dyer County, TN 68.2 Serious -3.6
Obion County, TN 56.9 Elevated -14.9

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Lake County
Marion County, GA 71.9 Serious +0.0
Calhoun County, GA 71.9 Serious +0.1
Turner County, GA 72.0 Serious +0.1
Dallas County, AR 72.3 Serious +0.5
Tensas Parish, LA 71.2 Serious -0.6

Download Data

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

Find Help in Lake 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 Lake 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 Lake County, Tennessee?

    Lake County has a County Distress Index score of 71.8 out of 100, placing it in the Serious zone. It ranks 326th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 9th in Tennessee out of 95 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Lake County?

    The primary driver of distress in Lake County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 93.9 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Lake County compare to neighboring counties?

    Lake County (71.8) can be compared to its 5 neighboring counties: Pemiscot County, MO (87.1); Fulton County, KY (79.9); New Madrid County, MO (70.1).

  • 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). Lake County's score of 71.8 sits in the Serious zone (71–86).

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

    Lake 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 Lake County?

    Lake County, Tennessee has a population of approximately 6,347 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a tiny county.