Tulsa County, Oklahoma

County Distress Index: Elevated · 61.8 | 682,868 people · 35th most distressed in Oklahoma
American Default Research

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Tulsa County, OK registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 61.8 — 834th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Housing Cost Burden, where a large share of households spend more than 30% of income on housing. Within Oklahoma, it ranks 35th of 77 counties. Among its 7 neighboring counties, 5 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Tulsa County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 70.8 — above the national median.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 70.8
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 69
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 65
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 66
Homeownership Rate 93
Consumer Credit Distress 69.0
Debt in Collections 70
Medical Debt 62
Auto Loan Delinquency 70
Credit Card Delinquency 63
Uninsured Rate 84
Subprime Credit Population 71
Legal Distress 68.4
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 68
Economic Vitality 38.7
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 31
Rent-to-Income Ratio 61
Business Formation Rate 16
House Price Change (YoY) 58
Structural Poverty 34.1
Unemployment Rate 49
Poverty Rate 62
Income vs. State Median 20
Child Poverty Rate 60
Disability Rate 29
Transfer Income Dependency 7

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Tulsa County
Tulsa County, OK 61.8 Elevated —
Okmulgee County, OK 74.8 Serious +13.0
Osage County, OK 62.7 Elevated +0.9
Pawnee County, OK 61.4 Elevated -0.4
Creek County, OK 60.9 Elevated -0.9
Washington County, OK 55.2 Elevated -6.6
Wagoner County, OK 49.6 Normal -12.2
Rogers County, OK 46.4 Normal -15.4

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Tulsa County
Jefferson County, KY 61.7 Elevated -0.1
New Castle County, DE 61.7 Elevated -0.1
Luzerne County, PA 62.1 Elevated +0.3
Horry County, SC 62.1 Elevated +0.3
St. Clair County, IL 61.5 Elevated -0.3

Download Data

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

Find Help in Tulsa County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Tulsa County.

QUICKCERT, INC.
Tulsa
888-383-8885 Website
Pre-PurchaseRental HelpReverse Mortgage
TULSA HABITAT FOR HUMANITY
Tulsa
918-592-4224x107 Website
Financial CounselingPost-PurchasePre-PurchaseHomebuyer Education

See all counselors in Oklahoma →

Find an Attorney

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 Tulsa County residents at no cost.

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

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 Oklahoma →

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Frequently Asked Questions

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

    Tulsa County has a County Distress Index score of 61.8 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 834th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 35th in Oklahoma out of 77 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Tulsa County?

    The primary driver of distress in Tulsa County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 70.8 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Tulsa County compare to neighboring counties?

    Tulsa County (61.8) can be compared to its 7 neighboring counties: Okmulgee County, OK (74.8); Osage County, OK (62.7); Pawnee County, OK (61.4).

  • 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). Tulsa County's score of 61.8 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Tulsa 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 Tulsa County?

    Tulsa County, Oklahoma has a population of approximately 682,868 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a large county.