Washington County, Tennessee

County Distress Index: Elevated · 55.3 | 138,420 people · 64th most distressed in Tennessee
American Default Research

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Washington County, TN registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 55.3 — 1185th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Housing Cost Burden, where housing costs consume a moderate share of household income. Within Tennessee, it ranks 64th of 95 counties. It scores lower than all 5 of its neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five domains of financial distress. Washington County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 63.6 — above the national median.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 63.6
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 74
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 75
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 26
Homeownership Rate 86
Rent-to-Income Ratio 57
Community Vulnerability 61.9
Uninsured Rate 68
Disability Rate 56
Debt & Delinquency 57.9
Debt in Collections 58
Medical Debt 80
Student Loan Delinquency 46
Auto Loan Delinquency 47
Credit Card Delinquency 38
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 78
Income & Poverty 51.1
Poverty Rate 69
Income vs. State Median 33
Child Poverty Rate 51
Employment & Wages 42.1
Unemployment Rate 27
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 45
Business Formation Rate 54

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

Neighbors and Peers

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

Neighboring Counties

County Score Zone vs. Washington County
Washington County, TN 55.3 Elevated —
Carter County, TN 71.4 Serious +16.0
Unicoi County, TN 64.4 Elevated +9.1
Hawkins County, TN 62.2 Elevated +6.9
Greene County, TN 58.6 Elevated +3.3
Sullivan County, TN 55.4 Elevated +0.1

Population Peers

County Score Zone vs. Washington County
Kankakee County, IL 55.2 Elevated -0.1
Hardin County, TX 55.2 Elevated -0.1
Sullivan County, TN 55.4 Elevated +0.1
White County, AR 55.2 Elevated -0.2
Kaufman County, TX 55.1 Elevated -0.2

Download Data

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

Find Help in Washington County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Washington County.

EASTERN EIGHT COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORP.
Johnson City
423-232-5097
Foreclosure PreventionFinancial CounselingHome Improvement/RehabPost-Purchase

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 Washington 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 Washington County, Tennessee?

    Washington County has a County Distress Index score of 55.3 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 1,185th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 64th in Tennessee out of 95 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Washington County?

    The primary driver of distress in Washington County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 63.6 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Washington County compare to neighboring counties?

    Washington County (55.3) can be compared to its 5 neighboring counties: Carter County, TN (71.4); Unicoi County, TN (64.4); Hawkins County, TN (62.2).

  • 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 Washington County?

    Washington County, Tennessee has a population of approximately 138,420 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.