Cochran County, Texas

County Distress Index: Elevated · 61.1 | 2,509 people · 129th most distressed in Texas
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Cochran County, TX registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 61.1 — 878th 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 129th of 254 counties. Among its 7 neighboring counties, 4 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Cochran County's primary driver is Consumer Credit Distress at 85.6 — worse than roughly 86% of U.S. counties.

Consumer Credit Distress Primary driver 85.6
Debt in Collections 88
Medical Debt 93
Auto Loan Delinquency 74
Credit Card Delinquency 73
Uninsured Rate 95
Subprime Credit Population 95
Structural Poverty 74.4
Unemployment Rate 30
Poverty Rate 91
Income vs. State Median 94
Child Poverty Rate 95
Disability Rate 81
Transfer Income Dependency 51
Economic Vitality 36.5
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 7
Rent-to-Income Ratio 81
Business Formation Rate 27
House Price Change (YoY) 70
Legal Distress 24.8
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 25
Housing Cost Burden 23.1
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 5
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 7
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 48
Homeownership Rate 84

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Cochran County
Cochran County, TX 61.1 Elevated —
Terry County, TX 76.8 Serious +15.6
Hockley County, TX 64.3 Elevated +3.2
Lea County, NM 63.6 Elevated +2.5
Roosevelt County, NM 63.2 Elevated +2.0
Lamb County, TX 59.5 Elevated -1.6
Bailey County, TX 48.3 Normal -12.8
Yoakum County, TX 42.8 Normal -18.4

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Cochran County
Elliott County, KY 61.2 Elevated +0.1
Real County, TX 60.9 Elevated -0.3
Menard County, TX 61.4 Elevated +0.3
Edwards County, TX 61.5 Elevated +0.4
Webster County, MS 61.6 Elevated +0.4

Download Data

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

Find Help in Cochran 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 Cochran 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 Cochran County, Texas?

    Cochran County has a County Distress Index score of 61.1 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 878th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 129th in Texas out of 254 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Cochran County?

    The primary driver of distress in Cochran County is Consumer Credit Distress, where the county scores 85.6 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Debt in Collections, Medical Debt, Auto Loan Delinquency.

  • How does Cochran County compare to neighboring counties?

    Cochran County (61.1) can be compared to its 7 neighboring counties: Terry County, TX (76.8); Hockley County, TX (64.3); Lea County, NM (63.6).

  • 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 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). Cochran County's score of 61.1 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Cochran 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 Cochran County?

    Cochran County, Texas has a population of approximately 2,509 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a tiny county.