Union County, Tennessee

County Distress Index: Elevated · 57.0 | 20,741 people · 55th most distressed in Tennessee
American Default Research

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

Union County, TN registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 57.0 — 1145th 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 55th of 95 counties. Among its 5 neighboring counties, 3 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Union County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 86.6 — worse than roughly 87% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 86.6
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 87
Economic Vitality 85.5
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 93
Rent-to-Income Ratio 90
Business Formation Rate 93
House Price Change (YoY) 18
Consumer Credit Distress 64.8
Debt in Collections 72
Medical Debt 91
Auto Loan Delinquency 38
Credit Card Delinquency 65
Uninsured Rate 51
Subprime Credit Population 68
Structural Poverty 58.6
Unemployment Rate 38
Poverty Rate 67
Income vs. State Median 26
Child Poverty Rate 75
Disability Rate 88
Transfer Income Dependency 67
Housing Cost Burden 17.6
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 13
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 12
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 53
Homeownership Rate 17

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Union County
Union County, TN 57.0 Elevated —
Campbell County, TN 68.5 Serious +11.5
Claiborne County, TN 64.5 Elevated +7.5
Anderson County, TN 59.9 Elevated +2.9
Knox County, TN 55.5 Elevated -1.5
Grainger County, TN 54.5 Elevated -2.5

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Union County
Rolette County, ND 57.1 Elevated +0.1
Obion County, TN 56.9 Elevated -0.1
Owen County, KY 56.9 Elevated -0.1
Lawrence County, TN 56.9 Elevated -0.1
Garrard County, KY 56.9 Elevated -0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Union 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 Union 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 Union County, Tennessee?

    Union County has a County Distress Index score of 57.0 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 1,145th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 55th in Tennessee out of 95 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Union County?

    The primary driver of distress in Union County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 86.6 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Union County compare to neighboring counties?

    Union County (57.0) can be compared to its 5 neighboring counties: Campbell County, TN (68.5); Claiborne County, TN (64.5); Anderson County, TN (59.9).

  • 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). Union County's score of 57.0 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Union 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 Union County?

    Union County, Tennessee has a population of approximately 20,741 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.