Carson County, Texas

County Distress Index: Normal · 45.1 | 5,878 people · 231st most distressed in Texas
American Default Research

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Carson County, TX falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 45.1 — 1891st 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 231st of 254 counties. Among its 8 neighboring counties, 7 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Carson County's primary driver is Consumer Credit Distress at 73.2 — above the national median.

Consumer Credit Distress Primary driver 73.2
Debt in Collections 80
Medical Debt 95
Auto Loan Delinquency 50
Credit Card Delinquency 84
Uninsured Rate 82
Subprime Credit Population 59
Legal Distress 46.4
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 46
Economic Vitality 28.9
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 5
Rent-to-Income Ratio 19
Business Formation Rate 73
House Price Change (YoY) 95
Structural Poverty 17.9
Unemployment Rate 10
Poverty Rate 13
Income vs. State Median 15
Child Poverty Rate 23
Disability Rate 13
Transfer Income Dependency 28
Housing Cost Burden 8.1
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 5
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 5
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 5
Homeownership Rate 25

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Carson County
Carson County, TX 45.1 Normal —
Potter County, TX 74.7 Serious +29.6
Gray County, TX 63.2 Elevated +18.1
Donley County, TX 59.6 Elevated +14.5
Hutchinson County, TX 57.6 Elevated +12.5
Moore County, TX 55.6 Elevated +10.5
Randall County, TX 54.2 Elevated +9.1
Roberts County, TX 47.3 Normal +2.1
Armstrong County, TX 40.9 Normal -4.2

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Carson County
Blaine County, MT 45.1 Normal +0.0
Crockett County, TX 45.2 Normal +0.1
Harney County, OR 44.9 Normal -0.2
Sullivan County, MO 45.4 Normal +0.3
Brewster County, TX 44.8 Normal -0.3

Download Data

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

Find Help in Carson 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 Carson 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 Carson County, Texas?

    Carson County has a County Distress Index score of 45.1 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 1,891st nationally out of 3,144 counties and 231st in Texas out of 254 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Carson County?

    The primary driver of distress in Carson County is Consumer Credit Distress, where the county scores 73.2 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Debt in Collections, Medical Debt, Auto Loan Delinquency.

  • How does Carson County compare to neighboring counties?

    Carson County (45.1) can be compared to its 8 neighboring counties: Potter County, TX (74.7); Gray County, TX (63.2); Donley County, TX (59.6).

  • 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). Carson County's score of 45.1 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Carson 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 Carson County?

    Carson County, Texas has a population of approximately 5,878 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a tiny county.