Shelby County, Tennessee

County Distress Index: Crisis · 81.3 | 910,042 people · 1st most distressed in Tennessee
American Default Research

Behind on your mortgage or facing eviction? Take a 2-minute assessment to see your options.

Shelby County, TN ranks among the most financially distressed counties in America with a score of 81.3 — 49th 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 1st of 95 counties. Among its 6 neighboring counties, 5 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Shelby County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 98.8 — worse than roughly 99% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 98.8
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 99
Consumer Credit Distress 92.7
Debt in Collections 94
Medical Debt 94
Auto Loan Delinquency 97
Credit Card Delinquency 91
Uninsured Rate 78
Subprime Credit Population 94
Housing Cost Burden 90.4
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 92
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 92
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 72
Homeownership Rate 97
Structural Poverty 46.4
Unemployment Rate 67
Poverty Rate 79
Income vs. State Median 32
Child Poverty Rate 87
Disability Rate 21
Transfer Income Dependency 19
Economic Vitality 38.4
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 16
Rent-to-Income Ratio 77
Business Formation Rate 12
House Price Change (YoY) 88

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Shelby County
Shelby County, TN 81.3 Crisis —
Crittenden County, AR 85.8 Crisis +4.5
Marshall County, MS 79.7 Serious -1.6
Mississippi County, AR 76.8 Serious -4.5
DeSoto County, MS 67.1 Serious -14.2
Tipton County, TN 62.2 Elevated -19.1
Fayette County, TN 51.1 Elevated -30.2

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Shelby County
Baltimore city, MD 81.9 Crisis +0.6
Hidalgo County, TX 79.2 Serious -2.1
Osceola County, FL 79.1 Serious -2.2
Chatham County, GA 79.0 Serious -2.3
Polk County, FL 79.0 Serious -2.3

Download Data

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

Find Help in Shelby County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Shelby County.

FRAYSER COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
Memphis
901-354-9401 Website
Foreclosure PreventionMortgage HelpFinancial CounselingFinancial Counseling
NSC (NACA COUNSELING SUBSIDIARY) - MEMPHIS, TN
MEMPHIS
901-348-0115 Website
Foreclosure PreventionFinancial CounselingFair HousingPost-Purchase
OPERATION HOPE - MEMPH TN - POPLAR AV
Memphis
404-996-5983 Website
Financial CounselingFinancial CounselingPre-PurchaseHomebuyer Education
OPERATION HOPE - MEMPHIS TN - RAINES RD
Memphis
901-273-4547 Website
Financial CounselingFinancial CounselingPre-PurchaseHomebuyer Education

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 Shelby 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 →

Continue Reading

Frequently Asked Questions

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

    Shelby County has a County Distress Index score of 81.3 out of 100, placing it in the Crisis zone. It ranks 49th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 1st in Tennessee out of 95 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Shelby County?

    The primary driver of distress in Shelby County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 98.8 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Shelby County compare to neighboring counties?

    Shelby County (81.3) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Crittenden County, AR (85.8); Marshall County, MS (79.7); Mississippi County, AR (76.8).

  • 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 Crisis 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). Shelby County's score of 81.3 sits in the Crisis zone (86 and above).

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

    Shelby 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 Shelby County?

    Shelby County, Tennessee has a population of approximately 910,042 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a large county.