Wilson County, Tennessee

County Distress Index: Normal · 42.9 | 163,674 people · 92nd most distressed in Tennessee
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Wilson County, TN falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 42.9 — 2018th 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 92nd 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. Wilson County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 71.0 — above the national median.

Legal Distress Primary driver 71.0
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 71
Economic Vitality 67.5
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 93
Rent-to-Income Ratio 54
Business Formation Rate 20
House Price Change (YoY) 72
Housing Cost Burden 62.2
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 73
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 55
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 89
Homeownership Rate 37
Consumer Credit Distress 35.0
Debt in Collections 31
Medical Debt 41
Auto Loan Delinquency 37
Credit Card Delinquency 31
Uninsured Rate 40
Subprime Credit Population 35
Structural Poverty 7.2
Unemployment Rate 13
Poverty Rate 3
Income vs. State Median 1
Child Poverty Rate 6
Disability Rate 16
Transfer Income Dependency 7

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Wilson County
Wilson County, TN 42.9 Normal —
Davidson County, TN 63.9 Elevated +21.0
DeKalb County, TN 62.4 Elevated +19.5
Rutherford County, TN 59.9 Elevated +17.0
Cannon County, TN 52.7 Elevated +9.8
Trousdale County, TN 50.9 Elevated +7.9
Sumner County, TN 50.0 Elevated +7.1
Smith County, TN 45.2 Normal +2.3

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Wilson County
Clay County, MN 43.0 Normal +0.1
Matanuska-Susitna Borough, AK 42.9 Normal -0.1
Cheshire County, NH 42.8 Normal -0.1
Stafford County, VA 43.0 Normal +0.1
Burnet County, TX 43.0 Normal +0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Wilson 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 Wilson 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 Wilson County, Tennessee?

    Wilson County has a County Distress Index score of 42.9 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 2,018th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 92nd in Tennessee out of 95 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Wilson County?

    The primary driver of distress in Wilson County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 71.0 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Wilson County compare to neighboring counties?

    Wilson County (42.9) can be compared to its 7 neighboring counties: Davidson County, TN (63.9); DeKalb County, TN (62.4); Rutherford 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 Normal 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). Wilson County's score of 42.9 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Wilson 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 Wilson County?

    Wilson County, Tennessee has a population of approximately 163,674 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.