DeKalb County, Georgia

County Distress Index: Elevated · 59.0 | 762,992 people · 103rd most distressed in Georgia
American Default Research

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DeKalb County, GA registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 59.0 — 908th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Housing Cost Burden, where a large share of households spend more than 30% of income on housing. Within Georgia, it ranks 103rd of 159 counties. Among its 5 neighboring counties, 3 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five domains of financial distress. DeKalb County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 91.1 — worse than roughly 91% of U.S. counties.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 91.1
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 98
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 96
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 75
Homeownership Rate 94
Rent-to-Income Ratio 91
Debt & Delinquency 81.3
Debt in Collections 82
Medical Debt 48
Student Loan Delinquency 86
Auto Loan Delinquency 89
Credit Card Delinquency 91
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 93
Community Vulnerability 48.1
Uninsured Rate 81
Disability Rate 15
Employment & Wages 39.2
Unemployment Rate 41
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 75
Business Formation Rate 2
Income & Poverty 35.3
Poverty Rate 48
Income vs. State Median 6
Child Poverty Rate 52

Scores are percentile-based: 50 = national median, higher = more distressed. The median line is shown on each bar.

Neighbors and Peers

How DeKalb County compares to its 5 neighboring counties and population peers.

Neighboring Counties

County Score Zone vs. DeKalb County
DeKalb County, GA 59.0 Elevated —
Clayton County, GA 71.5 Serious +12.5
Rockdale County, GA 64.4 Elevated +5.4
Henry County, GA 56.2 Elevated -2.8
Gwinnett County, GA 52.8 Elevated -6.2
Fulton County, GA 49.5 Normal -9.5

Population Peers

County Score Zone vs. DeKalb County
East Baton Rouge Parish, LA 59.5 Elevated +0.5
Lucas County, OH 58.5 Elevated -0.5
Lee County, FL 59.5 Elevated +0.5
Stanislaus County, CA 59.5 Elevated +0.5
Leon County, FL 59.5 Elevated +0.6

Download Data

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

Find Help in DeKalb County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near DeKalb County.

ATLANTA LEGAL AID SOCIETY, INC.
Decatur
770-817-7520 Website
Foreclosure PreventionFinancial CounselingPre-Lease/Pre-PurchasePre-Purchase
CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF THE ARCHDIOCESE OF ATLANTA
Atlanta
770-790-3112 Website
Foreclosure PreventionMortgage HelpFinancial CounselingFinancial Counseling
CENTER FOR PAN ASIAN COMMUNITY SERVICES, INC
Atlanta
770-936-0969 Website
Foreclosure PreventionFinancial CounselingFinancial CounselingFair Housing
GEORGIA HOUSING AND FINANCE AUTHORITY
ATLANTA
404-492-1095
HELP THE PEOPLE PROGRAM HOUSING COUNSELING AGENCY
Decatur
404-688-7766 Website
Foreclosure PreventionMortgage HelpHomeless/DisplacementPost-Purchase

See all counselors in Georgia →

Find an Attorney

State Bar of Georgia Lawyer Referral Service offers a lawyer referral service for bankruptcy, foreclosure defense, and consumer rights.

State Bar of Georgia Lawyer Referral Service 404-527-8700

Free Legal Aid

Legal aid organizations serving DeKalb County residents at no cost.

Atlanta Legal Aid Society 404-524-5811
Georgia Legal Services Program 1-888-257-4567
Georgia Legal Aid
State Bar of Georgia Lawyer Referral Service 404-527-8700

Self-Help Resources

Georgia Legal Aid — Housing Self-help guides for Georgia foreclosure process, rights, and defenses
DCA Georgia HAF Resources Assistance programs and housing counselor referrals

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 Georgia →

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the distress score for DeKalb County, Georgia?

    DeKalb County has a County Distress Index score of 59.0 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 908th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 103rd in Georgia out of 159 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in DeKalb County?

    The primary driver of distress in DeKalb County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 91.1 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does DeKalb County compare to neighboring counties?

    DeKalb County (59.0) can be compared to its 5 neighboring counties: Clayton County, GA (71.5); Rockdale County, GA (64.4); Henry County, GA (56.2).

  • How is the County Distress Index calculated?

    The County Distress Index uses percentile-rank averaging across five domains: Debt & Delinquency, Income & Poverty, Housing Cost Burden, Employment & Wages, and Community Vulnerability. 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.

  • What is the population of DeKalb County?

    DeKalb County, Georgia has a population of approximately 762,992 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a large county.