Grainger County, Tennessee

County Distress Index: Elevated · 54.8 | 24,681 people · 66th most distressed in Tennessee
American Default Research

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Grainger County, TN registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 54.8 — 1225th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Community Vulnerability, where uninsured and disability rates are well above the national average. Within Tennessee, it ranks 66th of 95 counties. Among its 7 neighboring counties, 5 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five domains of financial distress. Grainger County's primary driver is Community Vulnerability at 73.5 — above the national median.

Community Vulnerability Primary driver 73.5
Uninsured Rate 56
Disability Rate 91
Income & Poverty 61.8
Poverty Rate 65
Income vs. State Median 53
Child Poverty Rate 68
Debt & Delinquency 57.5
Debt in Collections 72
Medical Debt 88
Student Loan Delinquency 25
Auto Loan Delinquency 33
Credit Card Delinquency 43
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 83
Employment & Wages 46.2
Unemployment Rate 34
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 12
Business Formation Rate 92
Housing Cost Burden 34.8
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 46
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 43
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 22
Homeownership Rate 25
Rent-to-Income Ratio 37

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

Neighbors and Peers

How Grainger County compares to its 7 neighboring counties and population peers.

Neighboring Counties

County Score Zone vs. Grainger County
Grainger County, TN 54.8 Elevated —
Hancock County, TN 78.1 Serious +23.4
Hamblen County, TN 67.5 Serious +12.8
Claiborne County, TN 65.6 Serious +10.9
Hawkins County, TN 62.2 Elevated +7.5
Union County, TN 61.6 Elevated +6.9
Jefferson County, TN 53.8 Elevated -1.0
Knox County, TN 46.5 Normal -8.3

Population Peers

County Score Zone vs. Grainger County
Chilton County, AL 54.8 Elevated -0.0
Beltrami County, MN 54.8 Elevated -0.0
Randolph County, MO 54.8 Elevated +0.0
Fremont County, WY 54.8 Elevated +0.0
Staunton city, VA 54.8 Elevated +0.0

Download Data

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

Find Help in Grainger County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Grainger County.

CLINCH-POWELL RESOURCE CONSERVATION AND DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL, INC
Rutledge
865-828-5927 Website
Foreclosure PreventionFinancial CounselingFinancial CounselingHome Improvement/Rehab

See all counselors in Tennessee →

Find an Attorney

Tennessee Bar Association — Lawyer Referral Service offers a lawyer referral service for bankruptcy, foreclosure defense, and consumer rights.

Tennessee Bar Association — Lawyer Referral Service 615-383-7421

Free Legal Aid

Legal aid organizations serving Grainger County residents at no cost.

Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands 615-244-6610 (Nashville); 1-888-244-6610 (statewide hotline)
West Tennessee Legal Services 731-423-0616
Legal Services of South Central Tennessee 931-381-5533
Tennessee Justice Center 615-255-0331
Appalachian Regional Commission — East Tennessee Legal Aid 865-674-0260
Legal Aid of East Tennessee (865) 637-0484

American Default Research does not endorse, rate, or rank any provider. Verify attorney credentials with your state bar.

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the distress score for Grainger County, Tennessee?

    Grainger County has a County Distress Index score of 54.8 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 1,225th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 66th in Tennessee out of 95 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Grainger County?

    The primary driver of distress in Grainger County is Community Vulnerability, where the county scores 73.5 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Uninsured Rate, Disability Rate.

  • How does Grainger County compare to neighboring counties?

    Grainger County (54.8) can be compared to its 7 neighboring counties: Hancock County, TN (78.1); Hamblen County, TN (67.5); Claiborne County, TN (65.6).

  • 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 Grainger County?

    Grainger County, Tennessee has a population of approximately 24,681 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.