Cotton County, Oklahoma

County Distress Index: Elevated · 64.7 | 5,427 people · 27th most distressed in Oklahoma
American Default Research

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Cotton County, OK registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 64.7 — 653rd nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Legal Distress, where bankruptcy filing rates are well above the national average. Within Oklahoma, it ranks 27th of 77 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. Cotton County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 79.9 — worse than roughly 80% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 79.9
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 80
Consumer Credit Distress 74.4
Debt in Collections 95
Medical Debt 92
Auto Loan Delinquency 71
Credit Card Delinquency 36
Uninsured Rate 46
Subprime Credit Population 85
Structural Poverty 68.9
Unemployment Rate 41
Poverty Rate 75
Income vs. State Median 66
Child Poverty Rate 74
Disability Rate 95
Transfer Income Dependency 63
Economic Vitality 64.6
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 58
Rent-to-Income Ratio 57
Business Formation Rate 95
House Price Change (YoY) 62
Housing Cost Burden 36.6
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 26
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 52
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 44
Homeownership Rate 21

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Cotton County
Cotton County, OK 64.7 Elevated —
Wichita County, TX 72.2 Serious +7.4
Comanche County, OK 71.9 Serious +7.2
Tillman County, OK 69.8 Serious +5.0
Stephens County, OK 59.3 Elevated -5.4
Jefferson County, OK 57.7 Elevated -7.0
Clay County, TX 50.9 Elevated -13.9

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Cotton County
Costilla County, CO 64.7 Elevated -0.0
Owsley County, KY 64.9 Elevated +0.2
Lake County, OR 64.4 Elevated -0.3
Nicholas County, KY 64.3 Elevated -0.4
Kiowa County, OK 64.3 Elevated -0.5

Download Data

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

Find Help in Cotton County

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

Oklahoma Bar Association Lawyer Referral 405-416-7000

Free Legal Aid

Legal aid organizations serving Cotton County residents at no cost.

Legal Aid Services of Oklahoma 1-888-534-5243

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the distress score for Cotton County, Oklahoma?

    Cotton County has a County Distress Index score of 64.7 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 653rd nationally out of 3,144 counties and 27th in Oklahoma out of 77 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Cotton County?

    The primary driver of distress in Cotton County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 79.9 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Cotton County compare to neighboring counties?

    Cotton County (64.7) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Wichita County, TX (72.2); Comanche County, OK (71.9); Tillman County, OK (69.8).

  • 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). Cotton County's score of 64.7 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Cotton 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 Cotton County?

    Cotton County, Oklahoma has a population of approximately 5,427 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a tiny county.