Rhea County, Tennessee

County Distress Index: Elevated · 59.2 | 33,924 people · 42nd most distressed in Tennessee
American Default Research

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Rhea County, TN registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 59.2 — 1005th 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 42nd of 95 counties. Among its 5 neighboring counties, 3 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Rhea County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 94.7 — worse than roughly 95% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 94.7
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 95
Consumer Credit Distress 68.1
Debt in Collections 71
Medical Debt 86
Auto Loan Delinquency 38
Credit Card Delinquency 76
Uninsured Rate 74
Subprime Credit Population 71
Structural Poverty 66.4
Unemployment Rate 64
Poverty Rate 68
Income vs. State Median 49
Child Poverty Rate 67
Disability Rate 77
Transfer Income Dependency 77
Housing Cost Burden 36.5
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 23
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 43
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 28
Homeownership Rate 57
Economic Vitality 29.1
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 6
Rent-to-Income Ratio 31
Business Formation Rate 90
House Price Change (YoY) 21

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Rhea County
Rhea County, TN 59.2 Elevated —
Hamilton County, TN 60.5 Elevated +1.3
Meigs County, TN 60.1 Elevated +0.9
Bledsoe County, TN 59.1 Elevated -0.1
Roane County, TN 51.0 Elevated -8.2
Cumberland County, TN 49.2 Normal -10.0

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Rhea County
Jennings County, IN 59.2 Elevated 0.0
Fleming County, KY 59.2 Elevated +0.0
Izard County, AR 59.2 Elevated -0.0
Coosa County, AL 59.2 Elevated +0.0
Henry County, TN 59.2 Elevated -0.0

Download Data

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

Find Help in Rhea 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 Rhea 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 Rhea County, Tennessee?

    Rhea County has a County Distress Index score of 59.2 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 1,005th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 42nd in Tennessee out of 95 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Rhea County?

    The primary driver of distress in Rhea County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 94.7 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Rhea County compare to neighboring counties?

    Rhea County (59.2) can be compared to its 5 neighboring counties: Hamilton County, TN (60.5); Meigs County, TN (60.1); Bledsoe County, TN (59.1).

  • 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). Rhea County's score of 59.2 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Rhea 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 Rhea County?

    Rhea County, Tennessee has a population of approximately 33,924 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.