Tipton County, Tennessee

County Distress Index: Elevated · 62.2 | 62,015 people · 29th most distressed in Tennessee
American Default Research

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Tipton County, TN registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 62.2 — 819th 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 29th 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. Tipton County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 91.9 — worse than roughly 92% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 91.9
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 92
Economic Vitality 69.0
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 81
Rent-to-Income Ratio 55
Business Formation Rate 66
House Price Change (YoY) 55
Consumer Credit Distress 68.3
Debt in Collections 75
Medical Debt 93
Auto Loan Delinquency 58
Credit Card Delinquency 54
Uninsured Rate 56
Subprime Credit Population 70
Structural Poverty 47.4
Unemployment Rate 41
Poverty Rate 60
Income vs. State Median 15
Child Poverty Rate 79
Disability Rate 74
Transfer Income Dependency 36
Housing Cost Burden 45.7
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 51
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 45
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 46
Homeownership Rate 34

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Tipton County
Tipton County, TN 62.2 Elevated —
Crittenden County, AR 85.8 Crisis +23.6
Shelby County, TN 81.3 Crisis +19.1
Haywood County, TN 79.5 Serious +17.3
Lauderdale County, TN 79.4 Serious +17.2
Mississippi County, AR 76.8 Serious +14.6
Fayette County, TN 51.1 Elevated -11.1

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Tipton County
Lafayette Parish, LA 62.3 Elevated +0.1
Gordon County, GA 62.3 Elevated +0.1
Randolph County, NC 62.5 Elevated +0.3
Craven County, NC 62.6 Elevated +0.4
Walker County, AL 62.6 Elevated +0.4

Download Data

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

Find Help in Tipton 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 Tipton 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 Tipton County, Tennessee?

    Tipton County has a County Distress Index score of 62.2 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 819th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 29th in Tennessee out of 95 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Tipton County?

    The primary driver of distress in Tipton County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 91.9 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Tipton County compare to neighboring counties?

    Tipton County (62.2) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Crittenden County, AR (85.8); Shelby County, TN (81.3); Haywood County, TN (79.5).

  • 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 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). Tipton County's score of 62.2 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Tipton 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 Tipton County?

    Tipton County, Tennessee has a population of approximately 62,015 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.