Lawrence County, Tennessee

County Distress Index: Elevated · 56.9 | 46,114 people · 57th most distressed in Tennessee
American Default Research

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Lawrence County, TN registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 56.9 — 1152nd 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 57th 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. Lawrence County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 69.2 — above the national median.

Legal Distress Primary driver 69.2
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 69
Structural Poverty 65.2
Unemployment Rate 74
Poverty Rate 61
Income vs. State Median 58
Child Poverty Rate 61
Disability Rate 67
Transfer Income Dependency 71
Consumer Credit Distress 61.7
Debt in Collections 61
Medical Debt 79
Auto Loan Delinquency 59
Credit Card Delinquency 55
Uninsured Rate 88
Subprime Credit Population 50
Economic Vitality 51.5
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 47
Rent-to-Income Ratio 41
Business Formation Rate 77
House Price Change (YoY) 54
Housing Cost Burden 39.5
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 39
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 34
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 57
Homeownership Rate 41

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Lawrence County
Lawrence County, TN 56.9 Elevated —
Wayne County, TN 58.9 Elevated +2.0
Maury County, TN 56.6 Elevated -0.2
Lauderdale County, AL 56.6 Elevated -0.3
Lewis County, TN 56.3 Elevated -0.6
Giles County, TN 53.4 Elevated -3.5

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Lawrence County
Garrard County, KY 56.9 Elevated -0.0
Owen County, KY 56.9 Elevated +0.0
Shoshone County, ID 56.8 Elevated -0.0
Obion County, TN 56.9 Elevated +0.1
Johnson County, TN 56.8 Elevated -0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Lawrence 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 Lawrence 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 Lawrence County, Tennessee?

    Lawrence County has a County Distress Index score of 56.9 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 1,152nd nationally out of 3,144 counties and 57th in Tennessee out of 95 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Lawrence County?

    The primary driver of distress in Lawrence County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 69.2 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Lawrence County compare to neighboring counties?

    Lawrence County (56.9) can be compared to its 5 neighboring counties: Wayne County, TN (58.9); Maury County, TN (56.6); Lauderdale County, AL (56.6).

  • 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). Lawrence County's score of 56.9 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Lawrence 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 Lawrence County?

    Lawrence County, Tennessee has a population of approximately 46,114 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.