Weakley County, Tennessee

County Distress Index: Elevated · 60.0 | 33,084 people · 37th most distressed in Tennessee
American Default Research

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Weakley County, TN registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 60.0 — 952nd 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 37th of 95 counties. Among its 6 neighboring counties, 4 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Weakley County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 74.8 — above the national median.

Legal Distress Primary driver 74.8
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 75
Structural Poverty 66.6
Unemployment Rate 49
Poverty Rate 80
Income vs. State Median 61
Child Poverty Rate 65
Disability Rate 78
Transfer Income Dependency 67
Consumer Credit Distress 64.2
Debt in Collections 70
Medical Debt 78
Auto Loan Delinquency 52
Credit Card Delinquency 61
Uninsured Rate 60
Subprime Credit Population 63
Economic Vitality 53.9
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 48
Rent-to-Income Ratio 40
Business Formation Rate 90
House Price Change (YoY) 54
Housing Cost Burden 44.4
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 43
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 36
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 22
Homeownership Rate 81

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Weakley County
Weakley County, TN 60.0 Elevated —
Carroll County, TN 67.4 Serious +7.4
Gibson County, TN 64.3 Elevated +4.3
Henry County, TN 59.2 Elevated -0.8
Graves County, KY 58.1 Elevated -1.8
Obion County, TN 56.9 Elevated -3.0
Hickman County, KY 46.8 Normal -13.2

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Weakley County
Clare County, MI 60.0 Elevated +0.0
LaSalle Parish, LA 59.9 Elevated -0.0
Mason County, KY 59.9 Elevated -0.0
Union County, MS 60.1 Elevated +0.1
Smyth County, VA 60.1 Elevated +0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Weakley 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 Weakley 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 Weakley County, Tennessee?

    Weakley County has a County Distress Index score of 60.0 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 952nd nationally out of 3,144 counties and 37th in Tennessee out of 95 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Weakley County?

    The primary driver of distress in Weakley County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 74.8 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Weakley County compare to neighboring counties?

    Weakley County (60.0) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Carroll County, TN (67.4); Gibson County, TN (64.3); Henry County, TN (59.2).

  • 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). Weakley County's score of 60.0 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Weakley 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 Weakley County?

    Weakley County, Tennessee has a population of approximately 33,084 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.