Polk County, Tennessee

County Distress Index: Elevated · 61.5 | 18,033 people · 31st most distressed in Tennessee
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Polk County, TN registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 61.5 — 849th 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 31st of 95 counties. Its score is in the middle of its 6 neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Polk County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 88.5 — worse than roughly 89% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 88.5
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 89
Economic Vitality 88.1
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 92
Rent-to-Income Ratio 85
Business Formation Rate 80
House Price Change (YoY) 95
Structural Poverty 62.4
Unemployment Rate 45
Poverty Rate 61
Income vs. State Median 53
Child Poverty Rate 60
Disability Rate 85
Transfer Income Dependency 69
Consumer Credit Distress 62.1
Debt in Collections 63
Medical Debt 90
Auto Loan Delinquency 30
Credit Card Delinquency 80
Uninsured Rate 90
Subprime Credit Population 45
Housing Cost Burden 39.8
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 38
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 65
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 12
Homeownership Rate 5

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Polk County
Polk County, TN 61.5 Elevated —
Murray County, GA 67.2 Serious +5.7
Bradley County, TN 66.3 Serious +4.8
Monroe County, TN 64.9 Elevated +3.4
McMinn County, TN 61.4 Elevated -0.1
Fannin County, GA 50.9 Elevated -10.6
Cherokee County, NC 48.0 Normal -13.5

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Polk County
Buchanan County, VA 61.5 Elevated +0.0
Lincoln County, OK 61.6 Elevated +0.1
Jackson Parish, LA 61.6 Elevated +0.1
Saluda County, SC 61.4 Elevated -0.1
Union Parish, LA 61.4 Elevated -0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Polk 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 Polk 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 Polk County, Tennessee?

    Polk County has a County Distress Index score of 61.5 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 849th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 31st in Tennessee out of 95 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Polk County?

    The primary driver of distress in Polk County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 88.5 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Polk County compare to neighboring counties?

    Polk County (61.5) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Murray County, GA (67.2); Bradley County, TN (66.3); Monroe County, TN (64.9).

  • 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). Polk County's score of 61.5 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Polk 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 Polk County?

    Polk County, Tennessee has a population of approximately 18,033 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.