Rutherford County, Tennessee

County Distress Index: Elevated · 59.9 | 367,101 people · 38th most distressed in Tennessee
American Default Research

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Rutherford County, TN registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 59.9 — 958th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Housing Cost Burden, where a large share of households spend more than 30% of income on housing. Within Tennessee, it ranks 38th 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. Rutherford County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 78.0 — worse than roughly 78% of U.S. counties.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 78.0
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 88
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 66
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 77
Homeownership Rate 84
Legal Distress 75.8
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 76
Economic Vitality 73.8
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 87
Rent-to-Income Ratio 81
Business Formation Rate 21
House Price Change (YoY) 87
Consumer Credit Distress 60.4
Debt in Collections 52
Medical Debt 59
Auto Loan Delinquency 60
Credit Card Delinquency 60
Uninsured Rate 63
Subprime Credit Population 69
Structural Poverty 10.7
Unemployment Rate 13
Poverty Rate 13
Income vs. State Median 6
Child Poverty Rate 17
Disability Rate 10
Transfer Income Dependency 9

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Rutherford County
Rutherford County, TN 59.9 Elevated —
Davidson County, TN 63.9 Elevated +4.0
Bedford County, TN 63.2 Elevated +3.3
Coffee County, TN 59.8 Elevated -0.1
Cannon County, TN 52.7 Elevated -7.2
Marshall County, TN 49.3 Normal -10.6
Wilson County, TN 42.9 Normal -17.0
Williamson County, TN 21.4 Healthy -38.5

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Rutherford County
Providence County, RI 59.9 Elevated -0.0
St. Joseph County, IN 59.9 Elevated -0.0
Forsyth County, NC 60.1 Elevated +0.2
Hamilton County, OH 60.1 Elevated +0.2
Adams County, CO 60.3 Elevated +0.4

Download Data

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

Find Help in Rutherford County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Rutherford County.

DOMINION FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT
Smyrna
615-220-5858x111 Website
Foreclosure PreventionFinancial CounselingHomeless/DisplacementPost-Purchase
LIFE OF VICTORY INTERNATIONAL CHRISTIAN MINISTRIES
La Vergne
615-213-1468 Website
Foreclosure PreventionFinancial CounselingPre-PurchaseHomebuyer Education
YOU CAN MAKE IT HOME OWNERSHIP CENTER, INC.
Smyrna
615-355-0005
Foreclosure PreventionFinancial CounselingFinancial CounselingFair Housing

See all counselors in Tennessee →

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 Rutherford 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.

Need legal help? Find a foreclosure defense attorney in Tennessee →

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the distress score for Rutherford County, Tennessee?

    Rutherford County has a County Distress Index score of 59.9 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 958th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 38th in Tennessee out of 95 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Rutherford County?

    The primary driver of distress in Rutherford County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 78.0 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Rutherford County compare to neighboring counties?

    Rutherford County (59.9) can be compared to its 7 neighboring counties: Davidson County, TN (63.9); Bedford County, TN (63.2); Coffee County, TN (59.8).

  • 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). Rutherford County's score of 59.9 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Rutherford 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 Rutherford County?

    Rutherford County, Tennessee has a population of approximately 367,101 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a large county.