Macon County, Tennessee

County Distress Index: Elevated · 64.4 | 26,793 people · 20th most distressed in Tennessee
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Macon County, TN registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 64.4 — 683rd 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 20th of 95 counties. It scores higher than all 7 of its neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Macon County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 85.8 — worse than roughly 86% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 85.8
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 86
Consumer Credit Distress 70.7
Debt in Collections 67
Medical Debt 70
Auto Loan Delinquency 71
Credit Card Delinquency 76
Uninsured Rate 70
Subprime Credit Population 70
Housing Cost Burden 59.8
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 61
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 65
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 35
Homeownership Rate 63
Structural Poverty 51.9
Unemployment Rate 13
Poverty Rate 69
Income vs. State Median 51
Child Poverty Rate 71
Disability Rate 45
Transfer Income Dependency 56
Economic Vitality 44.3
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 33
Rent-to-Income Ratio 42
Business Formation Rate 88
House Price Change (YoY) 23

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Macon County
Macon County, TN 64.4 Elevated —
Allen County, KY 63.5 Elevated -0.8
Jackson County, TN 61.0 Elevated -3.4
Clay County, TN 54.8 Elevated -9.5
Monroe County, KY 54.5 Elevated -9.9
Trousdale County, TN 50.9 Elevated -13.5
Sumner County, TN 50.0 Elevated -14.3
Smith County, TN 45.2 Normal -19.2

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Macon County
Walthall County, MS 64.4 Elevated +0.0
Milam County, TX 64.4 Elevated +0.0
Henry County, VA 64.4 Elevated +0.0
Deaf Smith County, TX 64.4 Elevated -0.0
Perry County, KY 64.3 Elevated -0.0

Download Data

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

Find Help in Macon 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 Macon 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 Macon County, Tennessee?

    Macon County has a County Distress Index score of 64.4 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 683rd nationally out of 3,144 counties and 20th in Tennessee out of 95 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Macon County?

    The primary driver of distress in Macon County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 85.8 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Macon County compare to neighboring counties?

    Macon County (64.4) can be compared to its 7 neighboring counties: Allen County, KY (63.5); Jackson County, TN (61.0); Clay County, TN (54.8).

  • 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). Macon County's score of 64.4 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Macon 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 Macon County?

    Macon County, Tennessee has a population of approximately 26,793 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.