About one in three adults aged 25 to 54 in Escambia County, Alabama, is not working
In Escambia County, 36.5% of adults aged 25 to 54 were not working. That is higher than in 96% of U.S. counties.
More distressed than 89% of U.S. counties.
What drives Escambia County's score
In Escambia County, collections and bankruptcy weighs most: the score for collections and bankruptcy is 93.9. Bankruptcy filings ran at 388.4 per 100,000 people (2025), higher than in 95% of U.S. counties. Late payments on loans come next, at 88.9.
The County Distress Index looks at five parts of household money trouble in Escambia County: jobs, late payments on loans, income and the safety net, collections and bankruptcy, and housing costs. Each part is scored from 0 to 100, and a higher score means worse off than other counties.
Escambia County does better than most counties on two measures: rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income (19.4%, fiscal year 2027) and renters paying half their income or more in rent (16.1%, 2020 to 2024).
A longer bar means more trouble. See how the county score works.
- 93.9 of 100
Collections and bankruptcy
Biggest factorCredit records, August 2025; bankruptcy filings, 2025
- People with unpaid debt sent to a collector38.4% · August 202591st percentile
- Bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people388.4 · 202595th percentile
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- 88.9 of 100
Late payments
Credit records, August 2025; credit scores, second quarter of 2026
- People with a credit card behind8.3% · August 202586th percentile
- People with a car or retail loan behind9.6% · August 202590th percentile
- People with a subprime credit score54.6% · second quarter of 202689th percentile
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- 79.1 of 100
Income and safety net
Poverty and income, 2024; disability and insurance, 2020–24 Census survey
- People below the poverty line19.7% · 202486th percentile
- Children below the poverty line25.8% · 202483rd percentile
- People with a disability21.3% · 2020 to 202486th percentile
- People without health insurance9.2% · 2020 to 202460th percentile
- Median household income (lower income, longer bar)$56,963 · 202478th percentile
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- 72.9 of 100
Jobs
Unemployment through Sep 2026; adults not working, 2020–24 Census survey
- Unemployment rate, average over the latest year4.1% · Oct 2025 to Sep 202648th percentile
- Adults 25 to 54 not working36.5% · 2020 to 202496th percentile
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- 36.7 of 100
Housing costs
Renters, 2020–24 Census survey; HUD's fair market rents, fiscal year 2027
- Renters paying half their income or more in rent16.1% · 2020 to 202437th percentile
- Rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income19.4% · fiscal year 202735th percentile
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Sources: Urban Institute, Debt in America; Equifax via the St. Louis Fed; Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, Table F-5A; U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey; U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Fair Market Rents and Census income; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates. County Distress Index by American Default Research, from data through Sep 2026.
Where the money in Escambia County comes from
Benefit checks are Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid paid on people's behalf, veterans' benefits, and food and income support, so a high share usually means an older population, low pay, or both. In Escambia County, 19.0% of residents are 65 or older (Census Bureau, 2024), against 17.2% nationally that year.
Cents of every dollar of income, 2024
Escambia County
Alabama
United States
- Pay from work
- Investments and rent
- Benefit checks
In Escambia County, benefit checks' share of income has tripled since 1969, reaching 34.1% in 2024, but pay from work still brings in about one and a half times as much as benefit checks
In Escambia County, Alabama, benefit checks' share of income tripled from 1969 to 2024, reaching 34.1%; pay from work is plotted alongside. Every fifth year and 2024 are shown.
- Benefit checks
- Pay from work
The share of households in Escambia County getting SNAP food aid had its largest drop, from 24.8% in 2014 to 21.7% in 2015.
The share of households in Escambia County getting SNAP food aid was at its highest on the chart in 2014 and has since fallen to 15.2%
Low on the chart: 13.8% in 2022. Households getting SNAP, every year; each bar is a five-year survey estimate ending that year, so neighboring bars share most of their data, Escambia County, Alabama.
How Escambia County has changed
Escambia County's population rose 7% from 1969 to 2024, with most of the change between 1969 and 1974
High on the chart: 38,336 in 1999. Residents, yearly estimate, every fifth year and 2024, Escambia County, Alabama.
The number of jobs located in Escambia County had its largest drop, from 14,615 in 2000 to 12,678 in 2005.
The number of jobs located in Escambia County was at its highest on the chart in 2000 and is down 11% since
High on the chart: 14,615 in 2000. Yearly average of jobs covered by unemployment insurance, every fifth year and 2025, Escambia County, Alabama.
| Measure | Then | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rateBLS LAUS | 1990 8.7% | 2025 3.5% |
| People below the poverty lineCensus SAIPE | 1989 22.2% | 2024 19.7% |
| Median household incomeCensus SAIPE | 1989 $19,506 | 2024 $56,963 |
The table uses 3.5% for 2025; the score uses 4.1% for the latest year (Oct 2025 to Sep 2026), both from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Figures are as each agency published them, not adjusted for prices.
Dated events in Escambia County's history
1813
Creek wars of 1813 and 1814. Wikipedia
1861
During Civil War, rail lines were severed and lumber mills damaged or destroyed. Wikipedia
1868
Organized and established December 10, 1868 during Reconstruction from Baldwin and Conecuh counties. Wikipedia
1979
Hurricane Frederic caused county-wide damage, declared disaster area in September 1979. Wikipedia
2004
Hurricane Ivan caused county-wide damage, declared disaster area in September 2004. Wikipedia
2009
Lightning in July 2009 killed one person. NOAA Storm Events Database
2011
A tornado in April 2011 did $2.6 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2021
A tornado in June 2021 did $3.2 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2022
Lightning in July 2022 killed one person. NOAA Storm Events Database
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Since 1973
27 federal disaster and emergency declarations have covered Escambia County, 8 of them for flooding. FEMA
Escambia County beside its neighbors
Of the seven counties that border Escambia County, in Alabama and Florida, two score higher. For the share of income from benefit checks, Escambia County ranks 4th of the eight; Conecuh County is highest, at 42.4%.
| County | Score | Poverty | Benefit checks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conecuh County, AL | 97 | 22.7% | 42.4% |
| Monroe County, AL | 95 | 21.2% | 37.4% |
| Escambia County, AL | 89 | 19.7% | 34.1% |
| Escambia County, FL | 88 | 14.5% | 25.9% |
| Covington County, AL | 83 | 18.9% | 36.2% |
| Okaloosa County, FL | 51 | 10.6% | 22.5% |
| Santa Rosa County, FL | 44 | 10.3% | 21.5% |
| Baldwin County, AL | 43 | 10.5% | 22.3% |
Distress score: American Default Research, County Distress Index, data through Sep 2026; each county scored against all 3,144. Poverty rate: Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates, 2024. Benefit checks: Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024. Neighbors share a border, from Census county maps.
Is Escambia County the poorest county in Alabama?
No, Escambia County's poverty rate was 19.7% in 2024, 23rd highest of 67 in Alabama (U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates). By that measure the poorest county in the state is Bullock County, at 36.7%. On our distress index, which counts more than poverty, Escambia County ranks 25th of 67 in the state.
If you're behind on your mortgage in Escambia County
Housing counselors approved by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development work at nonprofit agencies. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau describes free foreclosure-avoidance counseling, including help with mortgage-company conversations and available options Source CFPB.
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Legal Services Alabama
Legal aid
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Alabama State Bar Lawyer Referral Service
Lawyer referral
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HUD-approved housing counselors
Our help directory lists 1,010 agencies approved for foreclosure counseling, by state.
The score, its 14 measures and their sources, in one file. Free to use with credit to American Default Research.
Download the CSV for Escambia County · Every U.S. county (CSV)
Sources and method
- American Default Research · County Distress Index Data through Sep 2026, built from Urban Institute, Debt in America; Equifax via the St. Louis Fed; U.S. Courts, Table F-5A; Census Bureau, American Community Survey; HUD Fair Market Rents and Census income; Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates. The County Distress Index is American Default Research's own calculation; the Urban Institute does not produce or endorse it. Our methodology
- Urban Institute · Debt in America Breno Braga, Signe-Mary McKernan, Samantha Atherton, and Kassandra Martinchek, "Debt in America," last updated November 20, 2025, https://datacatalog.urban.org/dataset/debt-america-2025. Licensed under ODC-By 1.0.
- Rent on a two-bedroom and household income The rent share compares HUD fair market rent for fiscal year 2027 with Census Bureau median household income for 2024. The page calls this the typical household's income.
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Economic Accounts (CAINC4) · income shares Where the money in Escambia County comes from, 2024.
- History The agencies named in each row and the linked records above.