Monroe County, Tennessee

County Distress Index: Elevated · 64.9 | 48,594 people · 18th most distressed in Tennessee
American Default Research

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Monroe County, TN registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 64.9 — 648th 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 18th of 95 counties. It scores higher than all 6 of its neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Monroe County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 87.6 — worse than roughly 88% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 87.6
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 88
Consumer Credit Distress 68.9
Debt in Collections 73
Medical Debt 88
Auto Loan Delinquency 69
Credit Card Delinquency 51
Uninsured Rate 77
Subprime Credit Population 63
Structural Poverty 64.9
Unemployment Rate 41
Poverty Rate 68
Income vs. State Median 44
Child Poverty Rate 66
Disability Rate 89
Transfer Income Dependency 80
Housing Cost Burden 59.0
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 55
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 67
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 43
Homeownership Rate 61
Economic Vitality 40.1
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 26
Rent-to-Income Ratio 26
Business Formation Rate 92
House Price Change (YoY) 55

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Monroe County
Monroe County, TN 64.9 Elevated —
Polk County, TN 61.5 Elevated -3.4
McMinn County, TN 61.4 Elevated -3.5
Graham County, NC 60.1 Elevated -4.7
Blount County, TN 49.4 Normal -15.5
Cherokee County, NC 48.0 Normal -16.8
Loudon County, TN 43.1 Normal -21.8

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Monroe County
Val Verde County, TX 64.9 Elevated +0.0
Vernon Parish, LA 64.9 Elevated +0.0
Lincoln County, MS 64.9 Elevated +0.0
Bourbon County, KY 64.8 Elevated -0.1
Haralson County, GA 65.0 Elevated +0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Monroe 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 Monroe 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 Monroe County, Tennessee?

    Monroe County has a County Distress Index score of 64.9 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 648th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 18th in Tennessee out of 95 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Monroe County?

    The primary driver of distress in Monroe County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 87.6 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Monroe County compare to neighboring counties?

    Monroe County (64.9) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Polk County, TN (61.5); McMinn County, TN (61.4); Graham County, NC (60.1).

  • 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). Monroe County's score of 64.9 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Monroe 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 Monroe County?

    Monroe County, Tennessee has a population of approximately 48,594 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.