Cherokee County, Texas

County Distress Index: Elevated · 62.8 | 52,217 people · 114th most distressed in Texas
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Cherokee County, TX registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 62.8 — 783rd 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 114th of 254 counties. It scores lower than all 7 of its neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Cherokee County's primary driver is Consumer Credit Distress at 82.8 — worse than roughly 83% of U.S. counties.

Consumer Credit Distress Primary driver 82.8
Debt in Collections 89
Medical Debt 76
Auto Loan Delinquency 72
Credit Card Delinquency 80
Uninsured Rate 97
Subprime Credit Population 87
Structural Poverty 64.8
Unemployment Rate 67
Poverty Rate 82
Income vs. State Median 62
Child Poverty Rate 86
Disability Rate 20
Transfer Income Dependency 72
Housing Cost Burden 41.1
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 25
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 39
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 76
Homeownership Rate 58
Economic Vitality 39.1
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 32
Rent-to-Income Ratio 44
Business Formation Rate 53
House Price Change (YoY) 33
Legal Distress 24.8
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 25

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Cherokee County
Cherokee County, TX 62.8 Elevated —
Nacogdoches County, TX 77.0 Serious +14.3
Anderson County, TX 76.8 Serious +14.0
Angelina County, TX 75.1 Serious +12.3
Henderson County, TX 73.6 Serious +10.9
Houston County, TX 67.6 Serious +4.9
Rusk County, TX 65.3 Serious +2.5
Smith County, TX 64.9 Elevated +2.1

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Cherokee County
Hall County, GA 62.8 Elevated 0.0
Muskingum County, OH 62.7 Elevated -0.0
Walker County, AL 62.6 Elevated -0.1
Midland County, TX 62.9 Elevated +0.1
Craven County, NC 62.6 Elevated -0.2

Download Data

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

Find Help in Cherokee 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 Cherokee 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 Cherokee County, Texas?

    Cherokee County has a County Distress Index score of 62.8 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 783rd nationally out of 3,144 counties and 114th in Texas out of 254 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Cherokee County?

    The primary driver of distress in Cherokee County is Consumer Credit Distress, where the county scores 82.8 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Debt in Collections, Medical Debt, Auto Loan Delinquency.

  • How does Cherokee County compare to neighboring counties?

    Cherokee County (62.8) can be compared to its 7 neighboring counties: Nacogdoches County, TX (77.0); Anderson County, TX (76.8); Angelina County, TX (75.1).

  • 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). Cherokee County's score of 62.8 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Cherokee 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 Cherokee County?

    Cherokee County, Texas has a population of approximately 52,217 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.