Williamson County, Tennessee

County Distress Index: Healthy · 21.4 | 264,460 people · 95th most distressed in Tennessee
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Williamson County, TN ranks among the least distressed counties in the country at 21.4 — 3043rd nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Housing Cost Burden, where housing costs consume a moderate share of household income. Within Tennessee, it ranks 95th of 95 counties. It scores lower than all 7 of its neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Williamson County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 60.8 — above the national median.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 60.8
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 77
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 63
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 57
Homeownership Rate 20
Legal Distress 27.6
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 28
Economic Vitality 24.8
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 38
Rent-to-Income Ratio 3
Business Formation Rate 6
House Price Change (YoY) 61
Consumer Credit Distress 6.8
Debt in Collections 1
Medical Debt 25
Auto Loan Delinquency 8
Credit Card Delinquency 3
Uninsured Rate 10
Subprime Credit Population 1
Structural Poverty 2.4
Unemployment Rate 10
Poverty Rate 1
Income vs. State Median 1
Child Poverty Rate 1
Disability Rate 1
Transfer Income Dependency 1

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Williamson County
Williamson County, TN 21.4 Healthy —
Davidson County, TN 63.9 Elevated +42.5
Rutherford County, TN 59.9 Elevated +38.5
Maury County, TN 56.6 Elevated +35.2
Hickman County, TN 51.2 Elevated +29.8
Marshall County, TN 49.3 Normal +27.9
Dickson County, TN 45.9 Normal +24.4
Cheatham County, TN 45.0 Normal +23.6

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Williamson County
Hamilton County, IN 24.2 Healthy +2.8
Loudoun County, VA 25.1 Healthy +3.7
Waukesha County, WI 25.3 Healthy +3.9
San Francisco County, CA 25.7 Healthy +4.3
Johnson County, KS 27.1 Healthy +5.6

Download Data

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

Find Help in Williamson County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Williamson County.

GOOD NEIGHBOR FOUNDATION
Franklin
615-610-4912 Website
Foreclosure PreventionHome Improvement/RehabPre-PurchaseHomebuyer Education

See all counselors in Tennessee →

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 Williamson 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 →

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the distress score for Williamson County, Tennessee?

    Williamson County has a County Distress Index score of 21.4 out of 100, placing it in the Healthy zone. It ranks 3,043rd nationally out of 3,144 counties and 95th in Tennessee out of 95 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Williamson County?

    The primary driver of distress in Williamson County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 60.8 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Williamson County compare to neighboring counties?

    Williamson County (21.4) can be compared to its 7 neighboring counties: Davidson County, TN (63.9); Rutherford County, TN (59.9); Maury County, TN (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 Healthy 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). Williamson County's score of 21.4 sits in the Healthy zone (below 46).

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

    Williamson 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 Williamson County?

    Williamson County, Tennessee has a population of approximately 264,460 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a large county.