Sequatchie County, Tennessee

County Distress Index: Serious · 78.0 | 17,161 people · 4th most distressed in Tennessee
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Sequatchie County, TN shows significant household financial distress with a score of 78.0 — 102nd 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 4th of 95 counties. It scores higher than all 6 of its neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Sequatchie County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 88.6 — worse than roughly 89% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 88.6
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 89
Economic Vitality 87.7
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 94
Rent-to-Income Ratio 88
Business Formation Rate 71
House Price Change (YoY) 84
Consumer Credit Distress 79.3
Debt in Collections 75
Medical Debt 93
Auto Loan Delinquency 84
Credit Card Delinquency 89
Uninsured Rate 79
Subprime Credit Population 64
Housing Cost Burden 77.7
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 85
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 95
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 36
Homeownership Rate 49
Structural Poverty 62.0
Unemployment Rate 58
Poverty Rate 62
Income vs. State Median 32
Child Poverty Rate 69
Disability Rate 90
Transfer Income Dependency 70

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Sequatchie County
Sequatchie County, TN 78.0 Serious —
Marion County, TN 63.7 Elevated -14.4
Grundy County, TN 63.0 Elevated -15.1
Hamilton County, TN 60.5 Elevated -17.6
Bledsoe County, TN 59.1 Elevated -18.9
Warren County, TN 57.9 Elevated -20.1
Van Buren County, TN 51.8 Elevated -26.2

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Sequatchie County
Burke County, GA 78.0 Serious -0.1
Washington County, NC 78.1 Serious +0.1
Bradford County, FL 78.0 Serious -0.1
Early County, GA 77.9 Serious -0.1
Hardeman County, TN 77.8 Serious -0.2

Download Data

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

Find Help in Sequatchie 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 Sequatchie 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 Sequatchie County, Tennessee?

    Sequatchie County has a County Distress Index score of 78.0 out of 100, placing it in the Serious zone. It ranks 102nd nationally out of 3,144 counties and 4th in Tennessee out of 95 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Sequatchie County?

    The primary driver of distress in Sequatchie County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 88.6 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Sequatchie County compare to neighboring counties?

    Sequatchie County (78.0) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Marion County, TN (63.7); Grundy County, TN (63.0); Hamilton County, TN (60.5).

  • 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 Serious 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). Sequatchie County's score of 78.0 sits in the Serious zone (71–86).

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

    Sequatchie 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 Sequatchie County?

    Sequatchie County, Tennessee has a population of approximately 17,161 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.