Smith County, Tennessee

County Distress Index: Normal · 45.2 | 20,538 people · 89th most distressed in Tennessee
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Smith County, TN falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 45.2 — 1884th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Legal Distress, where bankruptcy filings are moderately elevated. Within Tennessee, it ranks 89th of 95 counties. Among its 6 neighboring counties, 5 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Smith County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 60.1 — above the national median.

Legal Distress Primary driver 60.1
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 60
Consumer Credit Distress 51.9
Debt in Collections 60
Medical Debt 67
Auto Loan Delinquency 55
Credit Card Delinquency 23
Uninsured Rate 54
Subprime Credit Population 54
Economic Vitality 37.3
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 38
Rent-to-Income Ratio 15
Business Formation Rate 77
House Price Change (YoY) 24
Housing Cost Burden 36.2
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 18
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 49
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 45
Homeownership Rate 44
Structural Poverty 33.9
Unemployment Rate 19
Poverty Rate 35
Income vs. State Median 14
Child Poverty Rate 43
Disability Rate 62
Transfer Income Dependency 37

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Smith County
Smith County, TN 45.2 Normal —
Macon County, TN 64.4 Elevated +19.2
DeKalb County, TN 62.4 Elevated +17.2
Jackson County, TN 61.0 Elevated +15.8
Putnam County, TN 60.6 Elevated +15.4
Trousdale County, TN 50.9 Elevated +5.6
Wilson County, TN 42.9 Normal -2.3

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Smith County
Lincoln County, NE 45.2 Normal +0.0
Logan County, OH 45.2 Normal -0.0
Perry County, MO 45.3 Normal +0.0
Sumner County, KS 45.2 Normal -0.1
Chenango County, NY 45.3 Normal +0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Smith 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 Smith 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 Smith County, Tennessee?

    Smith County has a County Distress Index score of 45.2 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 1,884th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 89th in Tennessee out of 95 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Smith County?

    The primary driver of distress in Smith County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 60.1 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Smith County compare to neighboring counties?

    Smith County (45.2) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Macon County, TN (64.4); DeKalb County, TN (62.4); Jackson County, TN (61.0).

  • 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 Normal 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). Smith County's score of 45.2 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Smith 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 Smith County?

    Smith County, Tennessee has a population of approximately 20,538 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.