Overton County, Tennessee

County Distress Index: Elevated · 52.4 | 23,327 people · 73rd most distressed in Tennessee
American Default Research

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Overton County, TN registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 52.4 — 1429th 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 73rd of 95 counties. Among its 5 neighboring counties, 4 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Overton County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 81.4 — worse than roughly 81% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 81.4
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 81
Structural Poverty 62.1
Unemployment Rate 27
Poverty Rate 56
Income vs. State Median 72
Child Poverty Rate 57
Disability Rate 70
Transfer Income Dependency 74
Consumer Credit Distress 57.3
Debt in Collections 55
Medical Debt 77
Auto Loan Delinquency 43
Credit Card Delinquency 64
Uninsured Rate 50
Subprime Credit Population 56
Economic Vitality 44.5
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 40
Rent-to-Income Ratio 51
Business Formation Rate 59
House Price Change (YoY) 16
Housing Cost Burden 29.7
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 29
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 34
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 14
Homeownership Rate 33

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Overton County
Overton County, TN 52.4 Elevated —
Jackson County, TN 61.0 Elevated +8.6
Putnam County, TN 60.6 Elevated +8.2
Fentress County, TN 55.8 Elevated +3.4
Clay County, TN 54.8 Elevated +2.4
Pickett County, TN 46.4 Normal -6.0

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Overton County
Vermillion County, IN 52.3 Elevated -0.1
Crawford County, IN 52.3 Elevated -0.1
Starke County, IN 52.5 Elevated +0.1
Northampton County, VA 52.6 Elevated +0.2
Todd County, KY 52.2 Elevated -0.2

Download Data

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

Find Help in Overton 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 Overton 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 Overton County, Tennessee?

    Overton County has a County Distress Index score of 52.4 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 1,429th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 73rd in Tennessee out of 95 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Overton County?

    The primary driver of distress in Overton County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 81.4 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Overton County compare to neighboring counties?

    Overton County (52.4) can be compared to its 5 neighboring counties: Jackson County, TN (61.0); Putnam County, TN (60.6); Fentress County, TN (55.8).

  • 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). Overton County's score of 52.4 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Overton 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 Overton County?

    Overton County, Tennessee has a population of approximately 23,327 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.