Deaf Smith County, Texas

County Distress Index: Elevated · 64.4 | 18,347 people · 100th most distressed in Texas
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Deaf Smith County, TX registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 64.4 — 684th 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 100th of 254 counties. Among its 7 neighboring counties, 5 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Deaf Smith County's primary driver is Consumer Credit Distress at 91.3 — worse than roughly 91% of U.S. counties.

Consumer Credit Distress Primary driver 91.3
Debt in Collections 95
Medical Debt 94
Auto Loan Delinquency 76
Credit Card Delinquency 94
Uninsured Rate 95
Subprime Credit Population 95
Economic Vitality 55.2
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 41
Rent-to-Income Ratio 53
Business Formation Rate 77
House Price Change (YoY) 93
Housing Cost Burden 43.9
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 21
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 56
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 23
Homeownership Rate 82
Structural Poverty 36.9
Unemployment Rate 23
Poverty Rate 70
Income vs. State Median 52
Child Poverty Rate 71
Disability Rate 5
Transfer Income Dependency 8
Legal Distress 14.8
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 15

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Deaf Smith County
Deaf Smith County, TX 64.4 Elevated —
Potter County, TX 74.7 Serious +10.3
Curry County, NM 68.9 Serious +4.5
Randall County, TX 54.2 Elevated -10.1
Castro County, TX 53.8 Elevated -10.6
Quay County, NM 53.6 Elevated -10.8
Oldham County, TX 49.6 Normal -14.8
Parmer County, TX 48.3 Normal -16.1

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Deaf Smith County
Perry County, KY 64.3 Elevated -0.0
Macon County, TN 64.4 Elevated +0.0
Hockley County, TX 64.3 Elevated -0.0
Walthall County, MS 64.4 Elevated +0.0
Milam County, TX 64.4 Elevated +0.0

Download Data

Export all distress indicators for Deaf Smith County as a CSV file.

Find Help in Deaf Smith 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 Deaf Smith 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 Deaf Smith County, Texas?

    Deaf Smith County has a County Distress Index score of 64.4 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 684th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 100th in Texas out of 254 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Deaf Smith County?

    The primary driver of distress in Deaf Smith County is Consumer Credit Distress, where the county scores 91.3 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Debt in Collections, Medical Debt, Auto Loan Delinquency.

  • How does Deaf Smith County compare to neighboring counties?

    Deaf Smith County (64.4) can be compared to its 7 neighboring counties: Potter County, TX (74.7); Curry County, NM (68.9); Randall County, TX (54.2).

  • 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). Deaf Smith County's score of 64.4 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

  • What data sources power Deaf Smith County's CDI score?

    Deaf Smith 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 Deaf Smith County?

    Deaf Smith County, Texas has a population of approximately 18,347 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.