McNairy County, Tennessee

County Distress Index: Elevated · 59.5 | 26,163 people · 41st most distressed in Tennessee
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McNairy County, TN registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 59.5 — 987th 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 41st of 95 counties. Among its 4 neighboring counties, 3 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. McNairy County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 93.5 — worse than roughly 94% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 93.5
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 94
Consumer Credit Distress 72.9
Debt in Collections 72
Medical Debt 57
Auto Loan Delinquency 80
Credit Card Delinquency 85
Uninsured Rate 63
Subprime Credit Population 72
Structural Poverty 67.8
Unemployment Rate 52
Poverty Rate 65
Income vs. State Median 64
Child Poverty Rate 66
Disability Rate 53
Transfer Income Dependency 93
Economic Vitality 54.9
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 49
Rent-to-Income Ratio 43
Business Formation Rate 79
House Price Change (YoY) 74
Housing Cost Burden 16.7
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 14
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 9
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 41
Homeownership Rate 25

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. McNairy County
McNairy County, TN 59.5 Elevated —
Hardeman County, TN 77.8 Serious +18.3
Alcorn County, MS 66.3 Serious +6.8
Hardin County, TN 62.1 Elevated +2.6
Chester County, TN 57.9 Elevated -1.7

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. McNairy County
Wise County, VA 59.5 Elevated +0.0
Taylor County, KY 59.5 Elevated +0.0
Lamb County, TX 59.5 Elevated +0.0
Caldwell County, KY 59.5 Elevated -0.0
Fulton County, AR 59.6 Elevated +0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in McNairy 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 McNairy 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 McNairy County, Tennessee?

    McNairy County has a County Distress Index score of 59.5 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 987th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 41st in Tennessee out of 95 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in McNairy County?

    The primary driver of distress in McNairy County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 93.5 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does McNairy County compare to neighboring counties?

    McNairy County (59.5) can be compared to its 4 neighboring counties: Hardeman County, TN (77.8); Alcorn County, MS (66.3); Hardin County, TN (62.1).

  • 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). McNairy County's score of 59.5 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    McNairy 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 McNairy County?

    McNairy County, Tennessee has a population of approximately 26,163 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.