Callahan County, Texas

County Distress Index: Elevated · 56.0 | 14,374 people · 160th most distressed in Texas
American Default Research

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Callahan County, TX registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 56.0 — 1200th 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 160th 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. Callahan County's primary driver is Consumer Credit Distress at 70.7 — above the national median.

Consumer Credit Distress Primary driver 70.7
Debt in Collections 81
Medical Debt 94
Auto Loan Delinquency 37
Credit Card Delinquency 67
Uninsured Rate 91
Subprime Credit Population 68
Economic Vitality 63.6
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 75
Rent-to-Income Ratio 75
Business Formation Rate 24
House Price Change (YoY) 47
Structural Poverty 46.9
Unemployment Rate 19
Poverty Rate 43
Income vs. State Median 38
Child Poverty Rate 50
Disability Rate 75
Transfer Income Dependency 53
Legal Distress 34.8
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 35
Housing Cost Burden 34.3
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 53
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 27
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 33
Homeownership Rate 11

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Callahan County
Callahan County, TX 56.0 Elevated —
Brown County, TX 75.5 Serious +19.4
Jones County, TX 73.1 Serious +17.0
Taylor County, TX 69.4 Serious +13.3
Eastland County, TX 59.7 Elevated +3.7
Coleman County, TX 57.5 Elevated +1.5
Shackelford County, TX 48.9 Normal -7.1

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Callahan County
Calhoun County, TX 56.0 Elevated -0.0
Mercer County, KY 56.1 Elevated +0.0
Lincoln County, AR 56.1 Elevated +0.1
Polk County, AR 56.1 Elevated +0.1
Neosho County, KS 56.0 Elevated -0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Callahan 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 Callahan 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 Callahan County, Texas?

    Callahan County has a County Distress Index score of 56.0 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 1,200th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 160th in Texas out of 254 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Callahan County?

    The primary driver of distress in Callahan County is Consumer Credit Distress, where the county scores 70.7 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Debt in Collections, Medical Debt, Auto Loan Delinquency.

  • How does Callahan County compare to neighboring counties?

    Callahan County (56.0) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Brown County, TX (75.5); Jones County, TX (73.1); Taylor County, TX (69.4).

  • 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). Callahan County's score of 56.0 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Callahan 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 Callahan County?

    Callahan County, Texas has a population of approximately 14,374 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.