Chambers County, Texas

County Distress Index: Normal · 46.8 | 53,876 people · 223rd most distressed in Texas
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Chambers County, TX falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 46.8 — 1790th 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 223rd of 254 counties. It scores lower than all 4 of its neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Chambers County's primary driver is Consumer Credit Distress at 68.9 — above the national median.

Consumer Credit Distress Primary driver 68.9
Debt in Collections 72
Medical Debt 75
Auto Loan Delinquency 49
Credit Card Delinquency 62
Uninsured Rate 91
Subprime Credit Population 76
Economic Vitality 36.4
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 46
Rent-to-Income Ratio 22
Business Formation Rate 26
House Price Change (YoY) 50
Legal Distress 36.3
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 36
Housing Cost Burden 26.4
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 22
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 31
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 52
Homeownership Rate 9
Structural Poverty 16.1
Unemployment Rate 82
Poverty Rate 10
Income vs. State Median 1
Child Poverty Rate 12
Disability Rate 9
Transfer Income Dependency 5

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Chambers County
Chambers County, TX 46.8 Normal —
Liberty County, TX 76.9 Serious +30.1
Jefferson County, TX 73.3 Serious +26.5
Harris County, TX 70.6 Serious +23.8
Galveston County, TX 64.4 Elevated +17.6

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Chambers County
Cowlitz County, WA 46.9 Normal +0.0
Saline County, AR 46.8 Normal -0.0
Harrison County, WV 46.9 Normal +0.0
Boone County, MO 46.9 Normal +0.1
Brunswick County, NC 46.7 Normal -0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Chambers 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 Chambers 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.

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the distress score for Chambers County, Texas?

    Chambers County has a County Distress Index score of 46.8 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 1,790th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 223rd in Texas out of 254 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Chambers County?

    The primary driver of distress in Chambers County is Consumer Credit Distress, where the county scores 68.9 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Debt in Collections, Medical Debt, Auto Loan Delinquency.

  • How does Chambers County compare to neighboring counties?

    Chambers County (46.8) can be compared to its 4 neighboring counties: Liberty County, TX (76.9); Jefferson County, TX (73.3); Harris County, TX (70.6).

  • 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). Chambers County's score of 46.8 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Chambers 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 Chambers County?

    Chambers County, Texas has a population of approximately 53,876 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.