Unemployment in Robertson County, Tennessee, is lower than in 88% of U.S. counties
In Robertson County, 2.9% of the labor force was out of work, on average. That is lower than in 88% of U.S. counties.
Less distressed than 50% of U.S. counties.
What drives Robertson County's score
In Robertson County, housing costs are the highest-scoring part, at 83.0. Jobs are the lowest part, at 19.5.
The County Distress Index looks at five parts of household money trouble in Robertson 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.
Even so, Robertson County is worse off than most counties on rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income (26.6%, fiscal year 2027) and bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people (216.2, 2025).
A longer bar means more trouble. See how the county score works.
- 83.1 of 100
Housing costs
Biggest factorRenters, 2020–24 Census survey; HUD's fair market rents, fiscal year 2027
- Renters paying half their income or more in rent22.7% · 2020 to 202476th percentile
- Rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income26.6% · fiscal year 202789th percentile
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- 66.4 of 100
Collections and bankruptcy
Credit records, August 2025; bankruptcy filings, 2025
- People with unpaid debt sent to a collector24.3% · August 202554th percentile
- Bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people216.2 · 202578th percentile
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- 49.8 of 100
Late payments
Credit records, August 2025; credit scores, second quarter of 2026
- People with a credit card behind5.6% · August 202552nd percentile
- People with a car or retail loan behind5.8% · August 202559th percentile
- People with a subprime credit score37.1% · second quarter of 202637th percentile
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- 29.6 of 100
Income and safety net
Poverty and income, 2024; disability and insurance, 2020–24 Census survey
- People below the poverty line9.2% · 202416th percentile
- Children below the poverty line12.2% · 202423rd percentile
- People with a disability12.9% · 2020 to 202421st percentile
- People without health insurance10.2% · 2020 to 202467th percentile
- Median household income (lower income, longer bar)$81,231 · 202418th percentile
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- 19.5 of 100
Jobs
Unemployment through Sep 2026; adults not working, 2020–24 Census survey
- Unemployment rate, average over the latest year2.9% · Oct 2025 to Sep 202612th percentile
- Adults 25 to 54 not working16.9% · 2020 to 202426th 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 Robertson 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 Robertson County, 14.9% of residents are 65 or older (Census Bureau, 2024), against 17.2% nationally that year.
Cents of every dollar of income, 2024
Robertson County
Tennessee
United States
- Pay from work
- Investments and rent
- Benefit checks
Benefit checks' share of income in Robertson County made its largest gain on the way to its 2009 high, from 16.5% in 2004 to 21.0% in 2009.
In Robertson County, benefit checks' share of income has doubled since 1969, reaching 20.0% in 2024, but pay from work still brings in more than three times as much as benefit checks
In Robertson County, Tennessee, benefit checks' share of income doubled from 1969 to 2024, reaching 20.0%; pay from work is plotted alongside. Every fifth year and 2024 are shown.
- Benefit checks
- Pay from work
The share of households in Robertson County getting SNAP food aid had its largest rise, from 8.6% in 2009 to 10.3% in 2010.
The share of households in Robertson County getting SNAP food aid was at its highest on the chart in 2013 and has since fallen by about half
Biggest drop: 2019 to 2020, reaching 9.3%. Households getting SNAP, every year; each bar is a five-year survey estimate ending that year, so neighboring bars share most of their data, Robertson County, Tennessee.
How Robertson County has changed
Robertson County's population had its largest rise, from 45,744 in 1994 to 53,514 in 1999.
Robertson County's population tripled from 1969 to 2024, reaching 78,459, with no dip in any year shown
Smallest rise: 1979 to 1984, reaching 37,828. Residents, yearly estimate, every fifth year and 2024, Robertson County, Tennessee.
The jobs count covers work located in the county; the population count covers residents.
The number of jobs located in Robertson County more than doubled to 23,188, the highest on the chart
Biggest rise: 2010 to 2015, reaching 21,776. Yearly average of jobs covered by unemployment insurance, every fifth year and 2025, Robertson County, Tennessee.
| Measure | Then | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rateBLS LAUS | 1990 5.3% | 2025 3.0% |
| People below the poverty lineCensus SAIPE | 1989 11.4% | 2024 9.2% |
| Median household incomeCensus SAIPE | 1989 $26,594 | 2024 $81,231 |
The table uses 3.0% for 2025; the score uses 2.9% 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 Robertson County's history
1970
A tornado in April 1970 did $2.5 million in property damage and killed two people. NOAA Storm Events Database
2003
A tornado in May 2003 did $5 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2020
The county's largest recorded population was the 2020 Census count of 72,803, which is also its most recent census. Census Bureau
2021
A thunderstorm in May 2021 killed one person. NOAA Storm Events Database
2023
A tornado in December 2023 did $10 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
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Since 1975
14 federal disaster and emergency declarations have covered Robertson County, 7 of them for flooding. FEMA
Robertson County beside its neighbors
Of the seven counties that border Robertson County, in Tennessee and Kentucky, five score higher. For the share of income from benefit checks, Robertson County ranks 5th of the eight; Logan County is highest, at 32.9%.
| County | Score | Poverty | Benefit checks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Logan County, KY | 79 | 17.7% | 32.9% |
| Simpson County, KY | 75 | 14.6% | 28.7% |
| Todd County, KY | 73 | 16.6% | 27.2% |
| Montgomery County, TN | 62 | 10.2% | 22.4% |
| Davidson County, TN | 56 | 12.2% | 10.2% |
| Robertson County, TN | 49 | 9.2% | 20.0% |
| Cheatham County, TN | 35 | 8.4% | 19.9% |
| Sumner County, TN | 32 | 8.3% | 15.7% |
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 Robertson County the poorest county in Tennessee?
No, Robertson County's poverty rate was 9.2% in 2024, 86th highest of 95 in Tennessee (U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates). By that measure the poorest county in the state is Lake County, at 31.2%. On our distress index, which counts more than poverty, Robertson County ranks 77th of 95 in the state.
If you're behind on your mortgage in Robertson 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 Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands
Legal aid
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Tennessee Justice Center
Legal aid
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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 Robertson 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 Robertson County comes from, 2024.
- History The agencies named in each row and the linked records above.