Brazoria County, Texas

County Distress Index: Elevated · 58.4 | 398,938 people · 150th most distressed in Texas
American Default Research

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Brazoria County, TX registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 58.4 — 1049th 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 Texas, it ranks 150th of 254 counties. Among its 5 neighboring counties, 4 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Brazoria County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 71.5 — above the national median.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 71.5
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 86
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 62
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 85
Homeownership Rate 52
Consumer Credit Distress 70.6
Debt in Collections 75
Medical Debt 55
Auto Loan Delinquency 68
Credit Card Delinquency 68
Uninsured Rate 81
Subprime Credit Population 77
Legal Distress 44.9
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 45
Economic Vitality 33.3
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 40
Rent-to-Income Ratio 16
Business Formation Rate 20
House Price Change (YoY) 77
Structural Poverty 18.5
Unemployment Rate 72
Poverty Rate 16
Income vs. State Median 3
Child Poverty Rate 20
Disability Rate 7
Transfer Income Dependency 12

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Brazoria County
Brazoria County, TX 58.4 Elevated —
Matagorda County, TX 71.0 Serious +12.7
Harris County, TX 70.6 Serious +12.3
Wharton County, TX 64.7 Elevated +6.3
Galveston County, TX 64.4 Elevated +6.1
Fort Bend County, TX 54.3 Elevated -4.0

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Brazoria County
Marion County, OR 58.3 Elevated -0.1
Bernalillo County, NM 58.8 Elevated +0.4
Yakima County, WA 58.8 Elevated +0.4
Union County, NJ 58.9 Elevated +0.6
Cleveland County, OK 57.7 Elevated -0.6

Download Data

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

Find Help in Brazoria 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 Brazoria 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 Brazoria County, Texas?

    Brazoria County has a County Distress Index score of 58.4 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 1,049th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 150th in Texas out of 254 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Brazoria County?

    The primary driver of distress in Brazoria County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 71.5 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Brazoria County compare to neighboring counties?

    Brazoria County (58.4) can be compared to its 5 neighboring counties: Matagorda County, TX (71.0); Harris County, TX (70.6); Wharton County, TX (64.7).

  • 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). Brazoria County's score of 58.4 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Brazoria 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 Brazoria County?

    Brazoria County, Texas has a population of approximately 398,938 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a large county.