Ector County, Texas

County Distress Index: Serious · 72.3 | 164,494 people · 42nd most distressed in Texas
American Default Research

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Ector County, TX shows significant household financial distress with a score of 72.3 — 301st 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 42nd of 254 counties. It scores higher than all 6 of its neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Ector County's primary driver is Consumer Credit Distress at 94.7 — worse than roughly 95% of U.S. counties.

Consumer Credit Distress Primary driver 94.7
Debt in Collections 99
Medical Debt 99
Auto Loan Delinquency 84
Credit Card Delinquency 90
Uninsured Rate 99
Subprime Credit Population 99
Housing Cost Burden 78.0
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 83
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 75
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 61
Homeownership Rate 86
Economic Vitality 58.1
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 55
Rent-to-Income Ratio 93
Business Formation Rate 13
House Price Change (YoY) 58
Structural Poverty 23.4
Unemployment Rate 41
Poverty Rate 35
Income vs. State Median 27
Child Poverty Rate 32
Disability Rate 7
Transfer Income Dependency 7
Legal Distress 18.5
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 19

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Ector County
Ector County, TX 72.3 Serious —
Midland County, TX 62.9 Elevated -9.4
Ward County, TX 62.0 Elevated -10.3
Andrews County, TX 50.3 Elevated -22.0
Upton County, TX 47.3 Normal -25.0
Crane County, TX 45.7 Normal -26.6
Winkler County, TX 44.0 Normal -28.2

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Ector County
Ashtabula County, OH 72.3 Serious +0.0
Wichita County, TX 72.2 Serious -0.1
Richmond city, VA 72.5 Serious +0.2
Walker County, TX 72.1 Serious -0.2
Tuscaloosa County, AL 72.1 Serious -0.2

Download Data

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

Find Help in Ector County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Ector County.

ODESSA AFFORDABLE HOUSING, INC.
Odessa
432-362-2349 Website
Pre-PurchaseHomebuyer Education

See all counselors in Texas →

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 Ector 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 Ector County, Texas?

    Ector County has a County Distress Index score of 72.3 out of 100, placing it in the Serious zone. It ranks 301st nationally out of 3,144 counties and 42nd in Texas out of 254 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Ector County?

    The primary driver of distress in Ector County is Consumer Credit Distress, where the county scores 94.7 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Debt in Collections, Medical Debt, Auto Loan Delinquency.

  • How does Ector County compare to neighboring counties?

    Ector County (72.3) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Midland County, TX (62.9); Ward County, TX (62.0); Andrews County, TX (50.3).

  • 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 Serious 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). Ector County's score of 72.3 sits in the Serious zone (71–86).

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

    Ector 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 Ector County?

    Ector County, Texas has a population of approximately 164,494 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.