Cameron County, Texas

County Distress Index: Serious · 78.3 | 426,710 people · 7th most distressed in Texas
American Default Research

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Cameron County, TX shows significant household financial distress with a score of 78.3 — 98th 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 7th of 254 counties. Its score is in the middle of its 2 neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Cameron County's primary driver is Consumer Credit Distress at 91.6 — worse than roughly 92% of U.S. counties.

Consumer Credit Distress Primary driver 91.6
Debt in Collections 96
Medical Debt 88
Auto Loan Delinquency 93
Credit Card Delinquency 81
Uninsured Rate 99
Subprime Credit Population 95
Structural Poverty 76.8
Unemployment Rate 94
Poverty Rate 93
Income vs. State Median 83
Child Poverty Rate 95
Disability Rate 19
Transfer Income Dependency 77
Housing Cost Burden 75.0
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 79
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 77
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 41
Homeownership Rate 84
Economic Vitality 74.3
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 72
Rent-to-Income Ratio 76
Business Formation Rate 72
House Price Change (YoY) 86
Legal Distress 10.4
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 10

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Cameron County
Cameron County, TX 78.3 Serious —
Hidalgo County, TX 79.2 Serious +0.9
Willacy County, TX 76.2 Serious -2.1

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Cameron County
Henry County, GA 78.3 Serious +0.0
Webb County, TX 78.4 Serious +0.1
Orleans Parish, LA 78.2 Serious -0.1
El Paso County, TX 78.0 Serious -0.3
Polk County, FL 79.0 Serious +0.7

Download Data

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

Find Help in Cameron County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Cameron County.

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Brownsville
956-541-4955
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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 Cameron 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 Cameron County, Texas?

    Cameron County has a County Distress Index score of 78.3 out of 100, placing it in the Serious zone. It ranks 98th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 7th in Texas out of 254 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Cameron County?

    The primary driver of distress in Cameron County is Consumer Credit Distress, where the county scores 91.6 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Debt in Collections, Medical Debt, Auto Loan Delinquency.

  • How does Cameron County compare to neighboring counties?

    Cameron County (78.3) can be compared to its 2 neighboring counties: Hidalgo County, TX (79.2); Willacy County, TX (76.2).

  • 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 Serious 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). Cameron County's score of 78.3 sits in the Serious zone (71–86).

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

    Cameron 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 Cameron County?

    Cameron County, Texas has a population of approximately 426,710 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a large county.