Delta County, Texas

County Distress Index: Elevated · 63.8 | 5,520 people · 106th most distressed in Texas
American Default Research

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Delta County, TX registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 63.8 — 717th 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 106th of 254 counties. Among its 6 neighboring counties, 4 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Delta County's primary driver is Consumer Credit Distress at 74.2 — above the national median.

Consumer Credit Distress Primary driver 74.2
Debt in Collections 95
Medical Debt 95
Auto Loan Delinquency 28
Credit Card Delinquency 84
Uninsured Rate 46
Subprime Credit Population 81
Structural Poverty 69.6
Unemployment Rate 61
Poverty Rate 62
Income vs. State Median 65
Child Poverty Rate 72
Disability Rate 88
Transfer Income Dependency 71
Economic Vitality 62.3
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 68
Rent-to-Income Ratio 45
Business Formation Rate 70
House Price Change (YoY) 70
Legal Distress 50.3
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 50
Housing Cost Burden 43.2
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 72
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 27
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 54
Homeownership Rate 7

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Delta County
Delta County, TX 63.8 Elevated —
Red River County, TX 74.2 Serious +10.3
Hunt County, TX 73.6 Serious +9.8
Lamar County, TX 71.1 Serious +7.3
Fannin County, TX 63.9 Elevated +0.0
Hopkins County, TX 63.5 Elevated -0.3
Franklin County, TX 49.1 Normal -14.7

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Delta County
Issaquena County, MS 63.8 Elevated -0.0
Lincoln County, GA 63.7 Elevated -0.1
Gallatin County, KY 63.6 Elevated -0.2
Baylor County, TX 64.1 Elevated +0.3
Haskell County, TX 63.5 Elevated -0.3

Download Data

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

Find Help in Delta 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 Delta 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 Delta County, Texas?

    Delta County has a County Distress Index score of 63.8 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 717th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 106th in Texas out of 254 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Delta County?

    The primary driver of distress in Delta County is Consumer Credit Distress, where the county scores 74.2 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Debt in Collections, Medical Debt, Auto Loan Delinquency.

  • How does Delta County compare to neighboring counties?

    Delta County (63.8) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Red River County, TX (74.2); Hunt County, TX (73.6); Lamar County, TX (71.1).

  • 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). Delta County's score of 63.8 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Delta 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 Delta County?

    Delta County, Texas has a population of approximately 5,520 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a tiny county.