Lincoln County, Tennessee

County Distress Index: Elevated · 53.3 | 36,169 people · 71st most distressed in Tennessee
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Lincoln County, TN registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 53.3 — 1383rd 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 71st of 95 counties. Among its 7 neighboring counties, 5 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Lincoln County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 74.6 — above the national median.

Legal Distress Primary driver 74.6
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 75
Consumer Credit Distress 65.7
Debt in Collections 64
Medical Debt 92
Auto Loan Delinquency 78
Credit Card Delinquency 42
Uninsured Rate 68
Subprime Credit Population 59
Structural Poverty 48.5
Unemployment Rate 34
Poverty Rate 58
Income vs. State Median 37
Child Poverty Rate 56
Disability Rate 62
Transfer Income Dependency 48
Housing Cost Burden 32.2
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 36
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 25
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 40
Homeownership Rate 35
Economic Vitality 29.9
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 20
Rent-to-Income Ratio 21
Business Formation Rate 76
House Price Change (YoY) 16

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Lincoln County
Lincoln County, TN 53.3 Elevated —
Bedford County, TN 63.2 Elevated +9.9
Giles County, TN 53.4 Elevated +0.1
Madison County, AL 52.3 Elevated -1.0
Franklin County, TN 49.8 Normal -3.4
Marshall County, TN 49.3 Normal -4.0
Limestone County, AL 44.2 Normal -9.0
Moore County, TN 37.7 Normal -15.6

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Lincoln County
Page County, VA 53.3 Elevated -0.0
Marshall County, OK 53.2 Elevated -0.0
Bosque County, TX 53.2 Elevated -0.0
McDowell County, NC 53.2 Elevated -0.1
Vernon County, MO 53.1 Elevated -0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Lincoln 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 Lincoln 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 Lincoln County, Tennessee?

    Lincoln County has a County Distress Index score of 53.3 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 1,383rd nationally out of 3,144 counties and 71st in Tennessee out of 95 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Lincoln County?

    The primary driver of distress in Lincoln County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 74.6 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Lincoln County compare to neighboring counties?

    Lincoln County (53.3) can be compared to its 7 neighboring counties: Bedford County, TN (63.2); Giles County, TN (53.4); Madison County, AL (52.3).

  • 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). Lincoln County's score of 53.3 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Lincoln 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 Lincoln County?

    Lincoln County, Tennessee has a population of approximately 36,169 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.