ADI American Distress Index Q2 2026
47.0
Typical
up 0.9 on the quarter
Higher than 44% of the quarters published since 2005.
americandefault.org
The independent record of American financial distress
Financial strain on U.S. households is back above pre-pandemic levels
The American Distress Index, which we publish, was 47 in the second quarter of 2026, higher than at any point in 2019. It's still well below its 2009 peak.
We track 118 indicators of U.S. household finances and the economy, and we rank all 50 states and D.C. and all 3,144 U.S. counties. It's all free to use.
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The most financially distressed states
Unlike the national index above, state scores compare the 50 states and D.C. with one another. Higher scores mean more financial distress.
7 of the 10 most distressed states are in the South
State Distress Index, November 2026 release: scores for the 50 states and D.C. Inputs cover different periods; see sources. The number on each state is its rank.
0–2930–4950–6970–7980–100
Least distressedMost distressed
Tap a state for its rank and score.
State Distress Index
Full state rankings → The most financially distressed counties in America
94 of the 100 most distressed U.S. counties are in the South
County Distress Index score, 0 to 100, for all 3,144 U.S. counties. Data from 2024 to Aug 2026.
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Least distressed 0–2930–4950–6970–7980–100 Most distressed
Source: American Default Research, County Distress Index · American Default
American Default Research County Distress Index
- 1st Holmes County, MS 100
- 2nd Washington County, MS 99
- 3rd Dougherty County, GA 99
- 4th Dallas County, AL 99
- 5th Pemiscot County, MO 99
The score is the share of other U.S. counties that are less distressed, as a whole number. That's why several counties share 99. The rank breaks the tie.
Explore the statistics
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The places behind the numbers
All 24 county stories →We've researched and written the history behind 24 counties' scores.
3rd most distressed of 3,144
Dougherty County, Georgia: the debt W.E.B. Du Bois wrote about in 1903
Du Bois described debt running from merchants to tenants to laborers here. The county is the third most distressed in the country today.
5th most distressed of 3,144
Pemiscot County, Missouri, where the population peaked in 1940
It had 46,857 people in 1940. Today it is the fifth most distressed county in the country.
Least distressed of 3,144
Los Alamos County, New Mexico, the least distressed county in the U.S.
Twenty miles downhill, distress climbs back toward the national middle.
Latest analysis
Homeowner Assistance Fund (HAF): Unspent Money by State
HAF couldn't commit new money after Sept. 30, 2026. The states that spent the least mostly had few homeowners far behind. See what all 50 states and DC spent.
By Ross Kilburn · September 2026
All analysis →Use the data
Our data and analysis are free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 with credit. Downloads, the full method and ready story angles are in the kit.
In published articles, Shepherd Express cited our grocery-price research and Seeking Alpha linked our auto-loan delinquency figures.
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Citations and downloads
State scores, all 50 states and D.C.: Downloads and citation on the State Distress Index page →
County scores: Download data (CSV) · JSON
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Sources and method
Read our data sources and methods for the American Distress Index, State Distress Index, and County Distress Index.
We write with assistance from AI tools.