Clay County, Texas

County Distress Index: Elevated · 50.9 | 10,738 people · 196th most distressed in Texas
American Default Research

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Clay County, TX registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 50.9 — 1529th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Legal Distress, where bankruptcy filing rates are well above the national average. Within Texas, it ranks 196th 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. Clay County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 69.0 — above the national median.

Legal Distress Primary driver 69.0
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 69
Economic Vitality 62.0
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 71
Rent-to-Income Ratio 24
Business Formation Rate 81
House Price Change (YoY) 95
Consumer Credit Distress 59.4
Debt in Collections 68
Medical Debt 92
Auto Loan Delinquency 50
Credit Card Delinquency 31
Uninsured Rate 94
Subprime Credit Population 47
Structural Poverty 41.7
Unemployment Rate 41
Poverty Rate 35
Income vs. State Median 16
Child Poverty Rate 46
Disability Rate 83
Transfer Income Dependency 41
Housing Cost Burden 27.6
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 17
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 38
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 43
Homeownership Rate 17

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Clay County
Clay County, TX 50.9 Elevated —
Wichita County, TX 72.2 Serious +21.3
Montague County, TX 67.9 Serious +17.0
Cotton County, OK 64.7 Elevated +13.9
Jack County, TX 59.7 Elevated +8.8
Jefferson County, OK 57.7 Elevated +6.9
Archer County, TX 37.6 Normal -13.3

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Clay County
Fannin County, GA 50.9 Elevated -0.0
Trousdale County, TN 50.9 Elevated -0.0
Lassen County, CA 50.8 Elevated -0.0
Madison County, NC 50.9 Elevated +0.1
Carbon County, UT 50.8 Elevated -0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Clay 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 Clay 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 Clay County, Texas?

    Clay County has a County Distress Index score of 50.9 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 1,529th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 196th in Texas out of 254 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Clay County?

    The primary driver of distress in Clay County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 69.0 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Clay County compare to neighboring counties?

    Clay County (50.9) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Wichita County, TX (72.2); Montague County, TX (67.9); Cotton County, OK (64.7).

  • 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). Clay County's score of 50.9 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Clay 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 Clay County?

    Clay County, Texas has a population of approximately 10,738 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.