Putnam County, Tennessee

County Distress Index: Elevated · 60.6 | 83,844 people · 34th most distressed in Tennessee
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Putnam County, TN registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 60.6 — 916th 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 34th of 95 counties. Among its 7 neighboring counties, 5 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Putnam County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 82.2 — worse than roughly 82% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 82.2
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 82
Housing Cost Burden 81.1
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 80
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 85
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 56
Homeownership Rate 92
Consumer Credit Distress 53.9
Debt in Collections 55
Medical Debt 81
Auto Loan Delinquency 57
Credit Card Delinquency 33
Uninsured Rate 61
Subprime Credit Population 46
Structural Poverty 47.8
Unemployment Rate 34
Poverty Rate 75
Income vs. State Median 48
Child Poverty Rate 54
Disability Rate 22
Transfer Income Dependency 51
Economic Vitality 47.5
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 43
Rent-to-Income Ratio 50
Business Formation Rate 50
House Price Change (YoY) 61

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Putnam County
Putnam County, TN 60.6 Elevated —
DeKalb County, TN 62.4 Elevated +1.8
Jackson County, TN 61.0 Elevated +0.4
White County, TN 56.6 Elevated -4.0
Fentress County, TN 55.8 Elevated -4.8
Overton County, TN 52.4 Elevated -8.2
Cumberland County, TN 49.2 Normal -11.4
Smith County, TN 45.2 Normal -15.4

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Putnam County
Rockingham County, NC 60.6 Elevated +0.0
Crawford County, AR 60.5 Elevated -0.1
Burke County, NC 60.7 Elevated +0.1
Kankakee County, IL 60.8 Elevated +0.2
Monroe County, FL 60.8 Elevated +0.2

Download Data

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

Find Help in Putnam 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 Putnam 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 Putnam County, Tennessee?

    Putnam County has a County Distress Index score of 60.6 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 916th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 34th in Tennessee out of 95 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Putnam County?

    The primary driver of distress in Putnam County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 82.2 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Putnam County compare to neighboring counties?

    Putnam County (60.6) can be compared to its 7 neighboring counties: DeKalb County, TN (62.4); Jackson County, TN (61.0); White County, TN (56.6).

  • 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). Putnam County's score of 60.6 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Putnam 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 Putnam County?

    Putnam County, Tennessee has a population of approximately 83,844 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.