Marshall County, Tennessee

County Distress Index: Normal · 49.3 | 36,961 people · 84th most distressed in Tennessee
American Default Research

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Marshall County, TN falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 49.3 — 1618th 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 84th of 95 counties. Among its 6 neighboring counties, 5 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Marshall County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 88.3 — worse than roughly 88% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 88.3
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 88
Consumer Credit Distress 58.7
Debt in Collections 63
Medical Debt 84
Auto Loan Delinquency 32
Credit Card Delinquency 65
Uninsured Rate 51
Subprime Credit Population 58
Housing Cost Burden 36.2
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 32
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 32
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 69
Homeownership Rate 33
Economic Vitality 31.3
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 34
Rent-to-Income Ratio 11
Business Formation Rate 58
House Price Change (YoY) 28
Structural Poverty 29.0
Unemployment Rate 74
Poverty Rate 26
Income vs. State Median 12
Child Poverty Rate 36
Disability Rate 11
Transfer Income Dependency 29

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Marshall County
Marshall County, TN 49.3 Normal —
Bedford County, TN 63.2 Elevated +13.9
Rutherford County, TN 59.9 Elevated +10.6
Maury County, TN 56.6 Elevated +7.4
Giles County, TN 53.4 Elevated +4.1
Lincoln County, TN 53.3 Elevated +4.0
Williamson County, TN 21.4 Healthy -27.9

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Marshall County
East Feliciana Parish, LA 49.3 Normal +0.0
Greene County, PA 49.3 Normal +0.0
King William County, VA 49.3 Normal -0.0
Grant County, AR 49.3 Normal -0.0
Barry County, MO 49.3 Normal -0.0

Download Data

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

Find Help in Marshall 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 Marshall 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 Marshall County, Tennessee?

    Marshall County has a County Distress Index score of 49.3 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 1,618th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 84th in Tennessee out of 95 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Marshall County?

    The primary driver of distress in Marshall County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 88.3 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Marshall County compare to neighboring counties?

    Marshall County (49.3) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Bedford County, TN (63.2); Rutherford County, TN (59.9); Maury County, TN (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 Normal 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). Marshall County's score of 49.3 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Marshall 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 Marshall County?

    Marshall County, Tennessee has a population of approximately 36,961 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.