Meigs County, Tennessee

County Distress Index: Elevated · 60.1 | 13,691 people · 36th most distressed in Tennessee
American Default Research

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Meigs County, TN registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 60.1 — 943rd 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 36th of 95 counties. Among its 5 neighboring counties, 3 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Meigs County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 94.6 — worse than roughly 95% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 94.6
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 95
Structural Poverty 74.4
Unemployment Rate 82
Poverty Rate 65
Income vs. State Median 57
Child Poverty Rate 74
Disability Rate 83
Transfer Income Dependency 88
Consumer Credit Distress 59.8
Debt in Collections 70
Medical Debt 89
Auto Loan Delinquency 5
Credit Card Delinquency 62
Uninsured Rate 76
Subprime Credit Population 68
Housing Cost Burden 56.1
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 44
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 71
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 75
Homeownership Rate 36
Economic Vitality 22.7
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 8
Rent-to-Income Ratio 37
Business Formation Rate 44
House Price Change (YoY) 14

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Meigs County
Meigs County, TN 60.1 Elevated —
Bradley County, TN 66.3 Serious +6.2
McMinn County, TN 61.4 Elevated +1.3
Hamilton County, TN 60.5 Elevated +0.4
Rhea County, TN 59.2 Elevated -0.9
Roane County, TN 51.0 Elevated -9.1

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Meigs County
Smyth County, VA 60.1 Elevated -0.0
Union County, MS 60.1 Elevated -0.0
West Baton Rouge Parish, LA 60.2 Elevated +0.1
Clare County, MI 60.0 Elevated -0.1
Weakley County, TN 60.0 Elevated -0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Meigs 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 Meigs 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 Meigs County, Tennessee?

    Meigs County has a County Distress Index score of 60.1 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 943rd nationally out of 3,144 counties and 36th in Tennessee out of 95 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Meigs County?

    The primary driver of distress in Meigs County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 94.6 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Meigs County compare to neighboring counties?

    Meigs County (60.1) can be compared to its 5 neighboring counties: Bradley County, TN (66.3); McMinn County, TN (61.4); 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). Meigs County's score of 60.1 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Meigs 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 Meigs County?

    Meigs County, Tennessee has a population of approximately 13,691 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.