Sullivan County, Tennessee

County Distress Index: Elevated · 58.0 | 162,135 people · 47th most distressed in Tennessee
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Sullivan County, TN registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 58.0 — 1072nd 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 47th 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. Sullivan County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 86.0 — worse than roughly 86% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 86.0
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 86
Consumer Credit Distress 62.4
Debt in Collections 67
Medical Debt 82
Auto Loan Delinquency 68
Credit Card Delinquency 49
Uninsured Rate 59
Subprime Credit Population 51
Structural Poverty 54.2
Unemployment Rate 41
Poverty Rate 49
Income vs. State Median 53
Child Poverty Rate 56
Disability Rate 71
Transfer Income Dependency 53
Housing Cost Burden 49.0
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 55
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 46
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 25
Homeownership Rate 57
Economic Vitality 40.8
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 9
Rent-to-Income Ratio 58
Business Formation Rate 77
House Price Change (YoY) 79

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Sullivan County
Sullivan County, TN 58.0 Elevated —
Bristol city, VA 74.9 Serious +16.9
Carter County, TN 66.2 Serious +8.1
Hawkins County, TN 57.9 Elevated -0.1
Washington County, TN 57.9 Elevated -0.2
Johnson County, TN 56.8 Elevated -1.3
Scott County, VA 54.5 Elevated -3.6
Washington County, VA 45.0 Normal -13.0

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Sullivan County
Vermilion County, IL 58.1 Elevated +0.0
Hardin County, KY 58.0 Elevated -0.1
Hawkins County, TN 57.9 Elevated -0.1
Muskegon County, MI 57.9 Elevated -0.1
Blount County, AL 58.2 Elevated +0.2

Download Data

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

Find Help in Sullivan 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 Sullivan 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 Sullivan County, Tennessee?

    Sullivan County has a County Distress Index score of 58.0 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 1,072nd nationally out of 3,144 counties and 47th in Tennessee out of 95 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Sullivan County?

    The primary driver of distress in Sullivan County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 86.0 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Sullivan County compare to neighboring counties?

    Sullivan County (58.0) can be compared to its 7 neighboring counties: Bristol city, VA (74.9); Carter County, TN (66.2); Hawkins County, TN (57.9).

  • 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). Sullivan County's score of 58.0 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Sullivan 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 Sullivan County?

    Sullivan County, Tennessee has a population of approximately 162,135 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.