Unicoi County, Tennessee

County Distress Index: Elevated · 62.3 | 17,756 people · 28th most distressed in Tennessee
American Default Research

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Unicoi County, TN registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 62.3 — 816th 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 28th 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. Unicoi County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 75.5 — worse than roughly 76% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 75.5
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 75
Structural Poverty 67.8
Unemployment Rate 55
Poverty Rate 40
Income vs. State Median 62
Child Poverty Rate 70
Disability Rate 80
Transfer Income Dependency 89
Consumer Credit Distress 61.5
Debt in Collections 60
Medical Debt 84
Auto Loan Delinquency 43
Credit Card Delinquency 70
Uninsured Rate 58
Subprime Credit Population 58
Economic Vitality 59.1
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 40
Rent-to-Income Ratio 79
Business Formation Rate 95
House Price Change (YoY) 29
Housing Cost Burden 57.7
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 62
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 44
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 89
Homeownership Rate 58

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Unicoi County
Unicoi County, TN 62.3 Elevated —
Carter County, TN 66.2 Serious +3.9
Washington County, TN 57.9 Elevated -4.4
Greene County, TN 55.8 Elevated -6.5
Madison County, NC 50.9 Elevated -11.4
Yancey County, NC 40.5 Normal -21.8
Mitchell County, NC 39.7 Normal -22.6

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Unicoi County
Randolph County, AR 62.3 Elevated -0.0
Appling County, GA 62.3 Elevated -0.0
Del Norte County, CA 62.3 Elevated +0.0
Hart County, GA 62.4 Elevated +0.1
Dale County, AL 62.4 Elevated +0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Unicoi 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 Unicoi 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 Unicoi County, Tennessee?

    Unicoi County has a County Distress Index score of 62.3 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 816th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 28th in Tennessee out of 95 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Unicoi County?

    The primary driver of distress in Unicoi County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 75.5 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Unicoi County compare to neighboring counties?

    Unicoi County (62.3) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Carter County, TN (66.2); Washington County, TN (57.9); Greene County, TN (55.8).

  • 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 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). Unicoi County's score of 62.3 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Unicoi 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 Unicoi County?

    Unicoi County, Tennessee has a population of approximately 17,756 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.