Houston County, Alabama

County Distress Index: Serious · 65.3 | 108,462 people · 33rd most distressed in Alabama
American Default Research

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Houston County, AL shows significant household financial distress with a score of 65.3 — 627th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Legal Distress, where bankruptcy filing rates are well above the national average. Within Alabama, it ranks 33rd of 67 counties. Among its 6 neighboring counties, 4 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Houston County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 98.8 — worse than roughly 99% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 98.8
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 99
Consumer Credit Distress 72.3
Debt in Collections 78
Medical Debt 53
Auto Loan Delinquency 72
Credit Card Delinquency 65
Uninsured Rate 75
Subprime Credit Population 84
Housing Cost Burden 68.3
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 67
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 72
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 35
Homeownership Rate 87
Structural Poverty 47.5
Unemployment Rate 4
Poverty Rate 70
Income vs. State Median 24
Child Poverty Rate 79
Disability Rate 60
Transfer Income Dependency 52
Economic Vitality 21.5
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 16
Rent-to-Income Ratio 30
Business Formation Rate 4
House Price Change (YoY) 61

Scores are percentile-based: 50 = national median, higher = more distressed.

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Houston County
Houston County, AL 65.3 Serious —
Early County, GA 77.9 Serious +12.7
Jackson County, FL 76.3 Serious +11.1
Geneva County, AL 69.2 Serious +4.0
Seminole County, GA 67.1 Serious +1.8
Dale County, AL 62.4 Elevated -2.9
Henry County, AL 57.9 Elevated -7.4

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Houston County
Brazos County, TX 65.3 Serious 0.0
Rusk County, TX 65.3 Serious -0.0
Madison County, IN 65.3 Serious +0.1
Lynchburg city, VA 65.2 Serious -0.1
Navajo County, AZ 65.2 Serious -0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Houston County

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Alabama State Bar Lawyer Referral Service offers a lawyer referral service for bankruptcy, foreclosure defense, and consumer rights.

Alabama State Bar Lawyer Referral Service 1-800-392-5660

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Legal aid organizations serving Houston County residents at no cost.

Legal Services Alabama 1-866-456-4995
Alabama State Bar Lawyer Referral Service 1-800-392-5660

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the distress score for Houston County, Alabama?

    Houston County has a County Distress Index score of 65.3 out of 100, placing it in the Serious zone. It ranks 627th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 33rd in Alabama out of 67 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Houston County?

    The primary driver of distress in Houston County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 98.8 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Houston County compare to neighboring counties?

    Houston County (65.3) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Early County, GA (77.9); Jackson County, FL (76.3); Geneva County, AL (69.2).

  • How is the County Distress Index calculated?

    The County Distress Index uses PCA-weighted percentile scoring across five statistically derived factors: Consumer Credit Distress (47.5%), Housing Cost Burden (22.3%), Structural Poverty (13.6%), Economic Vitality (9.2%), and Legal Distress (7.4%). 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.

  • How often is the CDI updated?

    Annually, aligned to Census American Community Survey and Urban Institute Debt in America release windows — the slowest-moving source inputs. Between annual refreshes, faster-cadence indicators (BLS unemployment, QCEW wages) may drive light mid-year updates if a specific component moves meaningfully. Current data compiled April 14, 2026; next full refresh early 2027.

  • What does the Serious zone mean?

    The CDI divides counties into five zones: Healthy (below 46), Normal (46–55), Elevated (55–71), Serious (71–86), and Crisis (86 and above). Houston County's score of 65.3 sits in the Serious zone (71–86).

  • What data sources power Houston County's CDI score?

    Houston County's CDI score draws on Urban Institute Debt in America (Equifax credit-bureau panel), U.S. Census Bureau (American Community Survey 5-year, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates), Bureau of Labor Statistics (LAUS, QCEW), U.S. Courts Administrative Office (F-5A bankruptcy filings), and HUD Fair Market Rents. Every number on this page traces to one of these public sources.

  • What is the population of Houston County?

    Houston County, Alabama has a population of approximately 108,462 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.