Marion County, Tennessee

County Distress Index: Elevated · 63.7 | 29,382 people · 24th most distressed in Tennessee
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Marion County, TN registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 63.7 — 729th 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 24th of 95 counties. Among its 6 neighboring counties, 5 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Marion County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 90.6 — worse than roughly 91% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 90.6
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 91
Economic Vitality 80.9
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 87
Rent-to-Income Ratio 94
Business Formation Rate 73
House Price Change (YoY) 22
Consumer Credit Distress 75.3
Debt in Collections 74
Medical Debt 81
Auto Loan Delinquency 59
Credit Card Delinquency 96
Uninsured Rate 63
Subprime Credit Population 75
Structural Poverty 62.2
Unemployment Rate 55
Poverty Rate 62
Income vs. State Median 53
Child Poverty Rate 67
Disability Rate 80
Transfer Income Dependency 61
Housing Cost Burden 23.6
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 22
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 26
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 28
Homeownership Rate 20

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Marion County
Marion County, TN 63.7 Elevated —
Sequatchie County, TN 78.0 Serious +14.4
Grundy County, TN 63.0 Elevated -0.7
Hamilton County, TN 60.5 Elevated -3.2
Jackson County, AL 55.1 Elevated -8.6
Dade County, GA 53.8 Elevated -9.9
Franklin County, TN 49.8 Normal -13.8

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Marion County
Brunswick County, VA 63.7 Elevated -0.0
Tippah County, MS 63.7 Elevated +0.0
Nottoway County, VA 63.7 Elevated +0.0
Marion County, AL 63.6 Elevated -0.0
Beaufort County, NC 63.6 Elevated -0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Marion 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 Marion 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 Marion County, Tennessee?

    Marion County has a County Distress Index score of 63.7 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 729th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 24th in Tennessee out of 95 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Marion County?

    The primary driver of distress in Marion County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 90.6 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Marion County compare to neighboring counties?

    Marion County (63.7) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Sequatchie County, TN (78.0); Grundy County, TN (63.0); Hamilton County, TN (60.5).

  • 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). Marion County's score of 63.7 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Marion 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 Marion County?

    Marion County, Tennessee has a population of approximately 29,382 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.