Montgomery County, Tennessee

County Distress Index: Serious · 68.5 | 239,872 people · 12th most distressed in Tennessee
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Montgomery County, TN shows significant household financial distress with a score of 68.5 — 461st 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 12th of 95 counties. Among its 7 neighboring counties, 6 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Montgomery County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 86.9 — worse than roughly 87% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 86.9
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 87
Consumer Credit Distress 77.5
Debt in Collections 76
Medical Debt 80
Auto Loan Delinquency 73
Credit Card Delinquency 82
Uninsured Rate 57
Subprime Credit Population 86
Housing Cost Burden 67.1
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 70
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 49
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 88
Homeownership Rate 89
Economic Vitality 64.1
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 83
Rent-to-Income Ratio 55
Business Formation Rate 35
House Price Change (YoY) 51
Structural Poverty 32.3
Unemployment Rate 45
Poverty Rate 42
Income vs. State Median 11
Child Poverty Rate 39
Disability Rate 41
Transfer Income Dependency 29

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Montgomery County
Montgomery County, TN 68.5 Serious —
Christian County, KY 77.9 Serious +9.4
Robertson County, TN 57.1 Elevated -11.4
Todd County, KY 52.2 Elevated -16.3
Houston County, TN 50.6 Elevated -17.9
Dickson County, TN 45.9 Normal -22.6
Cheatham County, TN 45.0 Normal -23.5
Stewart County, TN 33.7 Healthy -34.8

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Montgomery County
St. Martin Parish, LA 68.5 Serious -0.0
Scioto County, OH 68.5 Serious -0.0
Orange County, TX 68.5 Serious -0.0
Walton County, GA 68.5 Serious -0.0
Delaware County, IN 68.6 Serious +0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Montgomery 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 Montgomery 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 Montgomery County, Tennessee?

    Montgomery County has a County Distress Index score of 68.5 out of 100, placing it in the Serious zone. It ranks 461st nationally out of 3,144 counties and 12th in Tennessee out of 95 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Montgomery County?

    The primary driver of distress in Montgomery County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 86.9 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Montgomery County compare to neighboring counties?

    Montgomery County (68.5) can be compared to its 7 neighboring counties: Christian County, KY (77.9); Robertson County, TN (57.1); Todd County, KY (52.2).

  • 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 Serious 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). Montgomery County's score of 68.5 sits in the Serious zone (71–86).

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

    Montgomery 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 Montgomery County?

    Montgomery County, Tennessee has a population of approximately 239,872 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.