Roane County, Tennessee

County Distress Index: Elevated · 51.0 | 56,096 people · 78th most distressed in Tennessee
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Roane County, TN registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 51.0 — 1523rd 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 78th of 95 counties. Among its 8 neighboring counties, 6 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Roane County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 73.2 — above the national median.

Legal Distress Primary driver 73.2
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 73
Consumer Credit Distress 57.5
Debt in Collections 62
Medical Debt 92
Auto Loan Delinquency 62
Credit Card Delinquency 45
Uninsured Rate 45
Subprime Credit Population 42
Structural Poverty 47.8
Unemployment Rate 41
Poverty Rate 48
Income vs. State Median 22
Child Poverty Rate 43
Disability Rate 74
Transfer Income Dependency 62
Housing Cost Burden 41.7
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 58
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 32
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 36
Homeownership Rate 32
Economic Vitality 26.6
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 1
Rent-to-Income Ratio 38
Business Formation Rate 81
House Price Change (YoY) 15

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Roane County
Roane County, TN 51.0 Elevated —
McMinn County, TN 61.4 Elevated +10.4
Meigs County, TN 60.1 Elevated +9.1
Anderson County, TN 59.9 Elevated +8.9
Rhea County, TN 59.2 Elevated +8.2
Morgan County, TN 57.6 Elevated +6.6
Knox County, TN 55.5 Elevated +4.6
Cumberland County, TN 49.2 Normal -1.8
Loudon County, TN 43.1 Normal -7.9

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Roane County
Tuscarawas County, OH 51.1 Elevated +0.1
Berrien County, MI 50.9 Elevated -0.1
Broome County, NY 51.1 Elevated +0.1
Grays Harbor County, WA 50.8 Elevated -0.1
Lawrence County, PA 51.1 Elevated +0.2

Download Data

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

Find Help in Roane 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 Roane 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 Roane County, Tennessee?

    Roane County has a County Distress Index score of 51.0 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 1,523rd nationally out of 3,144 counties and 78th in Tennessee out of 95 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Roane County?

    The primary driver of distress in Roane County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 73.2 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Roane County compare to neighboring counties?

    Roane County (51.0) can be compared to its 8 neighboring counties: McMinn County, TN (61.4); Meigs County, TN (60.1); Anderson County, TN (59.9).

  • 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). Roane County's score of 51.0 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Roane 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 Roane County?

    Roane County, Tennessee has a population of approximately 56,096 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.