Dallam County, Texas

County Distress Index: Elevated · 51.3 | 7,237 people · 192nd most distressed in Texas
American Default Research

Behind on your mortgage or facing eviction? Take a 2-minute assessment to see your options.

Dallam County, TX registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 51.3 — 1502nd 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 192nd of 254 counties. Among its 5 neighboring counties, 4 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Dallam County's primary driver is Consumer Credit Distress at 71.9 — above the national median.

Consumer Credit Distress Primary driver 71.9
Debt in Collections 81
Medical Debt 94
Auto Loan Delinquency 47
Credit Card Delinquency 50
Uninsured Rate 95
Subprime Credit Population 78
Economic Vitality 52.0
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 47
Rent-to-Income Ratio 66
Business Formation Rate 67
House Price Change (YoY) 5
Housing Cost Burden 32.0
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 41
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 5
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 30
Homeownership Rate 77
Legal Distress 27.1
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 27
Structural Poverty 23.6
Unemployment Rate 5
Poverty Rate 39
Income vs. State Median 45
Child Poverty Rate 39
Disability Rate 5
Transfer Income Dependency 5

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Dallam County
Dallam County, TX 51.3 Elevated —
Moore County, TX 55.6 Elevated +4.3
Union County, NM 48.5 Normal -2.8
Cimarron County, OK 39.2 Normal -12.1
Sherman County, TX 39.0 Normal -12.3
Hartley County, TX 35.1 Normal -16.2

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Dallam County
Jackson County, SD 51.3 Elevated +0.0
Benton County, IN 51.3 Elevated +0.1
Musselshell County, MT 51.2 Elevated -0.1
Lynn County, TX 51.1 Elevated -0.1
Cottle County, TX 51.6 Elevated +0.3

Download Data

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

Find Help in Dallam 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 Dallam 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 →

Continue Reading

Frequently Asked Questions

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

    Dallam County has a County Distress Index score of 51.3 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 1,502nd nationally out of 3,144 counties and 192nd in Texas out of 254 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Dallam County?

    The primary driver of distress in Dallam County is Consumer Credit Distress, where the county scores 71.9 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Debt in Collections, Medical Debt, Auto Loan Delinquency.

  • How does Dallam County compare to neighboring counties?

    Dallam County (51.3) can be compared to its 5 neighboring counties: Moore County, TX (55.6); Union County, NM (48.5); Cimarron County, OK (39.2).

  • 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). Dallam County's score of 51.3 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Dallam 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 Dallam County?

    Dallam County, Texas has a population of approximately 7,237 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a tiny county.