Bailey County, Texas

County Distress Index: Normal · 48.3 | 6,672 people · 212th most distressed in Texas
American Default Research

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Bailey County, TX falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 48.3 — 1693rd 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 212th of 254 counties. Among its 6 neighboring counties, 5 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Bailey County's primary driver is Consumer Credit Distress at 68.2 — above the national median.

Consumer Credit Distress Primary driver 68.2
Debt in Collections 76
Medical Debt 93
Auto Loan Delinquency 84
Credit Card Delinquency 5
Uninsured Rate 95
Subprime Credit Population 71
Structural Poverty 51.2
Unemployment Rate 38
Poverty Rate 70
Income vs. State Median 85
Child Poverty Rate 75
Disability Rate 15
Transfer Income Dependency 23
Economic Vitality 46.6
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 37
Rent-to-Income Ratio 66
Business Formation Rate 30
House Price Change (YoY) 70
Legal Distress 31.1
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 31
Housing Cost Burden 10.7
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 7
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 5
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 24
Homeownership Rate 24

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Bailey County
Bailey County, TX 48.3 Normal —
Curry County, NM 68.9 Serious +20.6
Hockley County, TX 64.3 Elevated +16.0
Roosevelt County, NM 63.2 Elevated +14.8
Cochran County, TX 61.1 Elevated +12.8
Lamb County, TX 59.5 Elevated +11.2
Parmer County, TX 48.3 Normal -0.1

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Bailey County
Parmer County, TX 48.3 Normal -0.1
Mills County, TX 48.4 Normal +0.1
Union County, NM 48.5 Normal +0.2
Niobrara County, WY 48.1 Normal -0.2
Modoc County, CA 48.6 Normal +0.2

Download Data

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

Find Help in Bailey 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 Bailey 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.

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Frequently Asked Questions

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

    Bailey County has a County Distress Index score of 48.3 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 1,693rd nationally out of 3,144 counties and 212th in Texas out of 254 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Bailey County?

    The primary driver of distress in Bailey County is Consumer Credit Distress, where the county scores 68.2 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Debt in Collections, Medical Debt, Auto Loan Delinquency.

  • How does Bailey County compare to neighboring counties?

    Bailey County (48.3) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Curry County, NM (68.9); Hockley County, TX (64.3); Roosevelt County, NM (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). Bailey County's score of 48.3 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Bailey 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 Bailey County?

    Bailey County, Texas has a population of approximately 6,672 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a tiny county.