In Harris County, Georgia, rent on a two-bedroom takes about one in seven dollars of the typical household's income
In Harris County, 14.2% of the typical household's income would go to rent on a two-bedroom. That is lower than in 98% of U.S. counties.
Less distressed than 68% of U.S. counties.
What drives Harris County's score
In Harris County, collections and bankruptcy is the highest-scoring part, at 58.9. Income and the safety net is the lowest part, at 22.3. The typical household earns $102,397 a year (2024), more than in 95% of U.S. counties.
The County Distress Index looks at five parts of household money trouble in Harris 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.
Harris County isn't among the worst-off quarter of U.S. counties on any measure.
A longer bar means more trouble. See how the county score works.
- 58.9 of 100
Collections and bankruptcy
Biggest factorCredit records, August 2025; bankruptcy filings, 2025
- People with unpaid debt sent to a collector24.5% · August 202555th percentile
- Bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people158.2 · 202562nd percentile
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- 51.4 of 100
Late payments
Credit records, August 2025; credit scores, second quarter of 2026
- People with a credit card behind5.3% · August 202546th percentile
- People with a car or retail loan behind6.7% · August 202569th percentile
- People with a subprime credit score37.2% · second quarter of 202638th percentile
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- 34.5 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 rent21.1% · 2020 to 202467th percentile
- Rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income14.2% · fiscal year 20271st percentile
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- 31.0 of 100
Jobs
Unemployment through Sep 2026; adults not working, 2020–24 Census survey
- Unemployment rate, average over the latest year3.1% · Oct 2025 to Sep 202616th percentile
- Adults 25 to 54 not working20.0% · 2020 to 202445th percentile
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- 22.3 of 100
Income and safety net
Poverty and income, 2024; disability and insurance, 2020–24 Census survey
- People below the poverty line8.8% · 202413th percentile
- Children below the poverty line10.3% · 202414th percentile
- People with a disability14.8% · 2020 to 202438th percentile
- People without health insurance6.8% · 2020 to 202440th percentile
- Median household income (lower income, longer bar)$102,397 · 20244th 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 Harris 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 Harris County, 19.2% of residents are 65 or older (Census Bureau, 2024), against 17.2% nationally that year.
Cents of every dollar of income, 2024
Harris County
Georgia
United States
- Pay from work
- Investments and rent
- Benefit checks
Benefit checks' share of income in Harris County had its largest rise, from 11.9% in 2004 to 15.9% in 2009.
In Harris County, benefit checks' share of income has doubled since 1969, reaching 21.0% in 2024, but pay from work still brings in about three times as much as benefit checks
In Harris County, Georgia, benefit checks' share of income doubled from 1969 to 2024, reaching 21.0%; pay from work is plotted alongside. Every fifth year and 2024 are shown.
- Benefit checks
- Pay from work
The share of households in Harris County getting SNAP food aid had its largest rise, from 7.5% in 2020 to 9.6% in 2021.
The share of households in Harris County getting SNAP food aid doubled from 2009 to 2023, reaching 10.5%, then turned down in 2024
High on the chart: 10.5% in 2023. Households getting SNAP, every year; each bar is a five-year survey estimate ending that year, so neighboring bars share most of their data, Harris County, Georgia.
How Harris County has changed
Harris County's population had its largest rise, from 27,180 in 2004 to 31,494 in 2009.
Harris County's population tripled from 1969 to 2024, reaching 36,929, with no dip in any year shown
Smallest rise: 2009 to 2014, reaching 32,214. Residents, yearly estimate, every fifth year and 2024, Harris County, Georgia.
The jobs count covers work located in the county; the population count covers residents.
The number of jobs located in Harris County doubled to 6,950, the highest on the chart, with most of the change between 2020 and 2025
Biggest rise: 2020 to 2025, reaching 6,950. Yearly average of jobs covered by unemployment insurance, every fifth year and 2025, Harris County, Georgia.
| Measure | Then | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rateBLS LAUS | 1990 5.1% | 2025 3.2% |
| People below the poverty lineCensus SAIPE | 1989 11.9% | 2024 8.8% |
| Median household incomeCensus SAIPE | 1989 $26,477 | 2024 $102,397 |
The table uses 3.2% for 2025; the score uses 3.1% 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 Harris County's history
1827
Created on December 14, 1827. Wikipedia
1980
A tornado in April 1980 did $2.5 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2001
A flash flood in March 2001 killed one person. NOAA Storm Events Database
2011
A tornado in April 2011 did $2 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2011
A tornado in November 2011 did $5 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2020
The county's largest recorded population was the 2020 Census count of 34,668, which is also its most recent census. Census Bureau
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Since 1977
14 federal disaster and emergency declarations have covered Harris County, 3 of them for flooding. FEMA
Harris County beside its neighbors
All six counties that border Harris County, in Georgia and Alabama, score higher than it does. For the share of income from benefit checks, Harris County ranks 6th of the seven; Talbot County is highest, at 39.7%.
| County | Score | Poverty | Benefit checks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Talbot County, GA | 99 | 22.0% | 39.7% |
| Muscogee County, GA | 95 | 17.3% | 27.2% |
| Chambers County, AL | 90 | 18.9% | 35.7% |
| Meriwether County, GA | 87 | 17.8% | 32.8% |
| Troup County, GA | 86 | 14.9% | 27.4% |
| Lee County, AL | 61 | 16.9% | 19.7% |
| Harris County, GA | 31 | 8.8% | 21.0% |
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 Harris County the poorest county in Georgia?
No, Harris County's poverty rate was 8.8% in 2024, 144th highest of 159 in Georgia (U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates). By that measure the poorest county in the state is Calhoun County, at 36.8%. On our distress index, which counts more than poverty, Harris County ranks 153rd of 159 in the state.
If you're behind on your mortgage in Harris 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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Georgia Legal Services Program
Legal aid
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Georgia Legal Aid
Legal help website
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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 Harris 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 Harris County comes from, 2024.
- History The agencies named in each row and the linked records above.