Armstrong County, Texas

County Distress Index: Normal · 40.9 | 1,832 people · 243rd most distressed in Texas
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Armstrong County, TX falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 40.9 — 2133rd nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Consumer Credit Distress, where residents carry heavy debt burdens with elevated delinquency and collections rates. Within Texas, it ranks 243rd of 254 counties. It scores lower than all 7 of its neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Armstrong County's primary driver is Consumer Credit Distress at 66.1 — above the national median.

Consumer Credit Distress Primary driver 66.1
Debt in Collections 35
Medical Debt 90
Auto Loan Delinquency 74
Credit Card Delinquency 73
Uninsured Rate 44
Subprime Credit Population 79
Economic Vitality 35.8
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 41
Rent-to-Income Ratio 32
Business Formation Rate 10
House Price Change (YoY) 70
Structural Poverty 28.2
Unemployment Rate 16
Poverty Rate 24
Income vs. State Median 23
Child Poverty Rate 37
Disability Rate 10
Transfer Income Dependency 49
Legal Distress 11.5
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 12
Housing Cost Burden 6.8
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 5
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 5
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 12
Homeownership Rate 11

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Armstrong County
Armstrong County, TX 40.9 Normal —
Potter County, TX 74.7 Serious +33.8
Swisher County, TX 67.3 Serious +26.4
Gray County, TX 63.2 Elevated +22.3
Donley County, TX 59.6 Elevated +18.7
Briscoe County, TX 58.4 Elevated +17.5
Randall County, TX 54.2 Elevated +13.3
Carson County, TX 45.1 Normal +4.2

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Armstrong County
Norton County, KS 40.9 Normal -0.0
Grant County, OR 41.0 Normal +0.0
DeKalb County, MO 41.0 Normal +0.1
Henderson County, IL 40.8 Normal -0.1
Mora County, NM 40.8 Normal -0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Armstrong County

Find an Attorney

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

State Bar of Texas — Lawyer Referral Service 1-800-252-9690

Free Legal Aid

Legal aid organizations serving Armstrong County residents at no cost.

Texas RioGrande Legal Aid 1-888-988-9996
Lone Star Legal Aid 1-800-733-8394
Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas (888) 529-5277

Self-Help Resources

Texas State Law Library — Foreclosure Research Guide Comprehensive guide to Texas foreclosure law with links to statutes, forms, and practice guides.
TexasLawHelp.org Free legal information and self-help resources for low-income Texans.

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 Texas →

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the distress score for Armstrong County, Texas?

    Armstrong County has a County Distress Index score of 40.9 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 2,133rd nationally out of 3,144 counties and 243rd in Texas out of 254 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Armstrong County?

    The primary driver of distress in Armstrong County is Consumer Credit Distress, where the county scores 66.1 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Debt in Collections, Medical Debt, Auto Loan Delinquency.

  • How does Armstrong County compare to neighboring counties?

    Armstrong County (40.9) can be compared to its 7 neighboring counties: Potter County, TX (74.7); Swisher County, TX (67.3); Gray County, TX (63.2).

  • 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 Normal 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). Armstrong County's score of 40.9 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Armstrong 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 Armstrong County?

    Armstrong County, Texas has a population of approximately 1,832 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a tiny county.