Lauderdale County, Tennessee

County Distress Index: Serious · 79.4 | 24,610 people · 3rd most distressed in Tennessee
American Default Research

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Lauderdale County, TN shows significant household financial distress with a score of 79.4 — 76th 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 3rd 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. Lauderdale County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 97.0 — worse than roughly 97% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 97.0
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 97
Consumer Credit Distress 92.5
Debt in Collections 97
Medical Debt 85
Auto Loan Delinquency 94
Credit Card Delinquency 99
Uninsured Rate 65
Subprime Credit Population 96
Structural Poverty 85.1
Unemployment Rate 74
Poverty Rate 95
Income vs. State Median 76
Child Poverty Rate 97
Disability Rate 92
Transfer Income Dependency 82
Housing Cost Burden 57.1
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 49
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 54
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 51
Homeownership Rate 89
Economic Vitality 43.4
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 29
Rent-to-Income Ratio 55
Business Formation Rate 81
House Price Change (YoY) 11

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Lauderdale County
Lauderdale County, TN 79.4 Serious —
Haywood County, TN 79.5 Serious +0.1
Mississippi County, AR 76.8 Serious -2.6
Dyer County, TN 68.2 Serious -11.2
Crockett County, TN 63.8 Elevated -15.6
Tipton County, TN 62.2 Elevated -17.2

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Lauderdale County
Miller County, AR 79.3 Serious -0.1
Haywood County, TN 79.5 Serious +0.1
Upson County, GA 79.6 Serious +0.2
Dunklin County, MO 79.2 Serious -0.2
Marshall County, MS 79.7 Serious +0.3

Download Data

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

Find Help in Lauderdale 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 Lauderdale 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 Lauderdale County, Tennessee?

    Lauderdale County has a County Distress Index score of 79.4 out of 100, placing it in the Serious zone. It ranks 76th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 3rd in Tennessee out of 95 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Lauderdale County?

    The primary driver of distress in Lauderdale County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 97.0 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Lauderdale County compare to neighboring counties?

    Lauderdale County (79.4) can be compared to its 5 neighboring counties: Haywood County, TN (79.5); Mississippi County, AR (76.8); Dyer County, TN (68.2).

  • 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). Lauderdale County's score of 79.4 sits in the Serious zone (71–86).

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

    Lauderdale 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 Lauderdale County?

    Lauderdale County, Tennessee has a population of approximately 24,610 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.