Sabine Parish, Louisiana

County Distress Index: Elevated · 63.9 | 21,906 people · 43rd most distressed in Louisiana
American Default Research

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Sabine Parish, LA registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 63.9 — 710th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Legal Distress, where bankruptcy filing rates are well above the national average. Within Louisiana, it ranks 43rd of 64 counties. Its score is in the middle of its 6 neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Sabine Parish's primary driver is Legal Distress at 77.2 — worse than roughly 77% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 77.2
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 77
Consumer Credit Distress 76.7
Debt in Collections 78
Medical Debt 78
Auto Loan Delinquency 82
Credit Card Delinquency 61
Uninsured Rate 51
Subprime Credit Population 92
Structural Poverty 74.4
Unemployment Rate 69
Poverty Rate 83
Income vs. State Median 49
Child Poverty Rate 78
Disability Rate 92
Transfer Income Dependency 83
Housing Cost Burden 38.5
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 45
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 50
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 10
Homeownership Rate 18
Economic Vitality 33.4
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 36
Rent-to-Income Ratio 39
Business Formation Rate 35
House Price Change (YoY) 1

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Sabine Parish
Sabine Parish, LA 63.9 Elevated —
Natchitoches Parish, LA 77.5 Serious +13.6
De Soto Parish, LA 67.2 Serious +3.2
Vernon Parish, LA 64.9 Elevated +1.0
Shelby County, TX 62.8 Elevated -1.1
Newton County, TX 61.2 Elevated -2.8
Sabine County, TX 54.5 Elevated -9.5

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Sabine Parish
Levy County, FL 63.9 Elevated -0.0
Jeff Davis County, GA 63.9 Elevated -0.0
Newton County, MS 64.0 Elevated +0.0
Henry County, KY 64.0 Elevated +0.1
Fannin County, TX 63.9 Elevated -0.1

Download Data

Export all distress indicators for Sabine Parish as a CSV file.

Find Help in Sabine Parish

Find an Attorney

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

Louisiana State Bar Association Lawyer Referral 1-800-421-5722

Free Legal Aid

Legal aid organizations serving Sabine Parish residents at no cost.

Southeast Louisiana Legal Services 504-529-1000
Acadiana Legal Service Corporation 1-800-256-1175
Southeast Louisiana Legal Services Corporation (504) 529-1000

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

Need legal help? Find a foreclosure defense attorney in Louisiana →

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the distress score for Sabine Parish, Louisiana?

    Sabine Parish has a County Distress Index score of 63.9 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 710th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 43rd in Louisiana out of 64 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Sabine Parish?

    The primary driver of distress in Sabine Parish is Legal Distress, where the county scores 77.2 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Sabine Parish compare to neighboring counties?

    Sabine Parish (63.9) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Natchitoches Parish, LA (77.5); De Soto Parish, LA (67.2); Vernon Parish, LA (64.9).

  • 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 Elevated 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). Sabine Parish's score of 63.9 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

  • What data sources power Sabine Parish's CDI score?

    Sabine Parish'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 Sabine Parish?

    Sabine Parish, Louisiana has a population of approximately 21,906 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.