Brewster County, Texas

County Distress Index: Normal · 44.8 | 9,513 people · 232nd most distressed in Texas
American Default Research

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Brewster County, TX falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 44.8 — 1905th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Consumer Credit Distress, where debt and delinquency levels sit above the national average. Within Texas, it ranks 232nd of 254 counties. Among its 4 neighboring counties, 3 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Brewster County's primary driver is Consumer Credit Distress at 55.0 — above the national median.

Consumer Credit Distress Primary driver 55.0
Debt in Collections 77
Medical Debt 95
Auto Loan Delinquency 25
Credit Card Delinquency 9
Uninsured Rate 69
Subprime Credit Population 63
Economic Vitality 41.2
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 34
Rent-to-Income Ratio 46
Business Formation Rate 53
House Price Change (YoY) 44
Housing Cost Burden 39.8
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 19
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 22
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 89
Homeownership Rate 95
Structural Poverty 38.3
Unemployment Rate 13
Poverty Rate 51
Income vs. State Median 61
Child Poverty Rate 60
Disability Rate 16
Transfer Income Dependency 23
Legal Distress 10.8
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 11

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Brewster County
Brewster County, TX 44.8 Normal —
Jeff Davis County, TX 64.1 Elevated +19.3
Pecos County, TX 60.6 Elevated +15.8
Terrell County, TX 52.3 Elevated +7.5
Presidio County, TX 44.7 Normal -0.1

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Brewster County
Loving County, TX 44.8 Normal -0.1
Lincoln County, CO 44.7 Normal -0.1
Newton County, AR 44.7 Normal -0.1
Harney County, OR 44.9 Normal +0.1
Prince of Wales-Hyder Census Area, AK 44.7 Normal -0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Brewster 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 Brewster 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 Brewster County, Texas?

    Brewster County has a County Distress Index score of 44.8 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 1,905th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 232nd in Texas out of 254 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Brewster County?

    The primary driver of distress in Brewster County is Consumer Credit Distress, where the county scores 55.0 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Debt in Collections, Medical Debt, Auto Loan Delinquency.

  • How does Brewster County compare to neighboring counties?

    Brewster County (44.8) can be compared to its 4 neighboring counties: Jeff Davis County, TX (64.1); Pecos County, TX (60.6); Terrell County, TX (52.3).

  • 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). Brewster County's score of 44.8 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Brewster 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 Brewster County?

    Brewster County, Texas has a population of approximately 9,513 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a tiny county.