White County, Tennessee

County Distress Index: Elevated · 56.6 | 28,692 people · 60th most distressed in Tennessee
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White County, TN registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 56.6 — 1165th 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 60th 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. White County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 77.6 — worse than roughly 78% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 77.6
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 78
Consumer Credit Distress 60.5
Debt in Collections 58
Medical Debt 71
Auto Loan Delinquency 50
Credit Card Delinquency 63
Uninsured Rate 74
Subprime Credit Population 59
Structural Poverty 58.1
Unemployment Rate 55
Poverty Rate 51
Income vs. State Median 28
Child Poverty Rate 60
Disability Rate 66
Transfer Income Dependency 88
Economic Vitality 57.1
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 61
Rent-to-Income Ratio 25
Business Formation Rate 92
House Price Change (YoY) 65
Housing Cost Burden 40.3
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 21
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 60
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 51
Homeownership Rate 31

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. White County
White County, TN 56.6 Elevated —
DeKalb County, TN 62.4 Elevated +5.8
Putnam County, TN 60.6 Elevated +4.0
Warren County, TN 57.9 Elevated +1.3
Van Buren County, TN 51.8 Elevated -4.8
Cumberland County, TN 49.2 Normal -7.4

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. White County
Cherokee County, AL 56.6 Elevated -0.0
Metcalfe County, KY 56.6 Elevated +0.0
Plaquemines Parish, LA 56.7 Elevated +0.0
Washington County, KY 56.6 Elevated -0.0
Washington County, AL 56.5 Elevated -0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in White 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 White 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 White County, Tennessee?

    White County has a County Distress Index score of 56.6 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 1,165th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 60th in Tennessee out of 95 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in White County?

    The primary driver of distress in White County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 77.6 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does White County compare to neighboring counties?

    White County (56.6) can be compared to its 5 neighboring counties: DeKalb County, TN (62.4); Putnam County, TN (60.6); Warren County, TN (57.9).

  • 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). White County's score of 56.6 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    White 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 White County?

    White County, Tennessee has a population of approximately 28,692 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.