Fayette County, Georgia

County Distress Index: Normal · 38.7 | 123,351 people · 154th most distressed in Georgia
American Default Research

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Fayette County, GA falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 38.7 — 2429th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Housing Cost Burden, where housing costs consume a moderate share of household income. Within Georgia, it ranks 154th of 159 counties. It scores lower than all 4 of its neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five domains of financial distress. Fayette County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 63.7 — above the national median.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 63.7
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 98
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 94
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 72
Homeownership Rate 15
Rent-to-Income Ratio 41
Debt & Delinquency 53.1
Debt in Collections 38
Medical Debt 38
Student Loan Delinquency 57
Auto Loan Delinquency 64
Credit Card Delinquency 40
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 82
Employment & Wages 41.0
Unemployment Rate 27
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 94
Business Formation Rate 2
Community Vulnerability 33.2
Uninsured Rate 48
Disability Rate 18
Income & Poverty 2.3
Poverty Rate 2
Income vs. State Median 0
Child Poverty Rate 5

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

Neighbors and Peers

How Fayette County compares to its 4 neighboring counties and population peers.

Neighboring Counties

County Score Zone vs. Fayette County
Fayette County, GA 38.7 Normal —
Clayton County, GA 71.5 Serious +32.9
Spalding County, GA 70.3 Serious +31.7
Fulton County, GA 49.5 Normal +10.8
Coweta County, GA 42.8 Normal +4.1

Population Peers

County Score Zone vs. Fayette County
Jessamine County, KY 38.6 Normal -0.0
Barry County, MI 38.6 Normal -0.0
Adams County, PA 38.7 Normal +0.1
Rockwall County, TX 38.7 Normal +0.1
Chambers County, TX 38.7 Normal +0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Fayette County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Fayette County.

VETERANS CENTER
Fayetteville
678-792-8387 Website
Foreclosure PreventionMortgage HelpFinancial CounselingFair Housing

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 Fayette 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 Fayette County, Georgia?

    Fayette County has a County Distress Index score of 38.7 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 2,429th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 154th in Georgia out of 159 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Fayette County?

    The primary driver of distress in Fayette County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 63.7 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Fayette County compare to neighboring counties?

    Fayette County (38.7) can be compared to its 4 neighboring counties: Clayton County, GA (71.5); Spalding County, GA (70.3); Fulton County, GA (49.5).

  • 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 Fayette County?

    Fayette County, Georgia has a population of approximately 123,351 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.