Wayne County, Tennessee

County Distress Index: Elevated · 58.9 | 16,066 people · 46th most distressed in Tennessee
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Wayne County, TN registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 58.9 — 1027th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Structural Poverty, where poverty rates are high, transfer income dependency is elevated, and household incomes lag well behind state and national medians. Within Tennessee, it ranks 46th 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. Wayne County's primary driver is Structural Poverty at 74.0 — above the national median.

Structural Poverty Primary driver 74.0
Unemployment Rate 52
Poverty Rate 78
Income vs. State Median 74
Child Poverty Rate 75
Disability Rate 75
Transfer Income Dependency 82
Legal Distress 61.7
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 62
Consumer Credit Distress 59.8
Debt in Collections 66
Medical Debt 74
Auto Loan Delinquency 10
Credit Card Delinquency 79
Uninsured Rate 81
Subprime Credit Population 62
Economic Vitality 58.0
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 40
Rent-to-Income Ratio 53
Business Formation Rate 95
House Price Change (YoY) 95
Housing Cost Burden 47.0
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 64
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 45
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 49
Homeownership Rate 12

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Wayne County
Wayne County, TN 58.9 Elevated —
Hardin County, TN 62.1 Elevated +3.2
Lawrence County, TN 56.9 Elevated -2.0
Lauderdale County, AL 56.6 Elevated -2.3
Lewis County, TN 56.3 Elevated -2.6
Perry County, TN 54.8 Elevated -4.0
Decatur County, TN 49.1 Normal -9.7

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Wayne County
Perry County, OH 58.8 Elevated -0.0
Lake County, MI 58.9 Elevated +0.1
Clay County, AL 58.9 Elevated +0.1
Iberville Parish, LA 58.9 Elevated +0.1
Cedar County, MO 58.8 Elevated -0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Wayne 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 Wayne 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 Wayne County, Tennessee?

    Wayne County has a County Distress Index score of 58.9 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 1,027th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 46th in Tennessee out of 95 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Wayne County?

    The primary driver of distress in Wayne County is Structural Poverty, where the county scores 74.0 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Unemployment Rate, Poverty Rate, Income vs. State Median.

  • How does Wayne County compare to neighboring counties?

    Wayne County (58.9) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Hardin County, TN (62.1); Lawrence County, TN (56.9); Lauderdale County, AL (56.6).

  • 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). Wayne County's score of 58.9 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Wayne 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 Wayne County?

    Wayne County, Tennessee has a population of approximately 16,066 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.