Ellis County, Texas

County Distress Index: Serious · 68.6 | 222,829 people · 72nd most distressed in Texas
American Default Research

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Ellis County, TX shows significant household financial distress with a score of 68.6 — 457th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Legal Distress, where bankruptcy filing rates are well above the national average. Within Texas, it ranks 72nd of 254 counties. Among its 7 neighboring counties, 6 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Ellis County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 81.6 — worse than roughly 82% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 81.6
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 82
Housing Cost Burden 79.1
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 91
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 83
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 84
Homeownership Rate 40
Economic Vitality 77.5
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 96
Rent-to-Income Ratio 83
Business Formation Rate 14
House Price Change (YoY) 88
Consumer Credit Distress 75.7
Debt in Collections 79
Medical Debt 75
Auto Loan Delinquency 65
Credit Card Delinquency 72
Uninsured Rate 90
Subprime Credit Population 80
Structural Poverty 13.4
Unemployment Rate 45
Poverty Rate 5
Income vs. State Median 4
Child Poverty Rate 8
Disability Rate 16
Transfer Income Dependency 11

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Ellis County
Ellis County, TX 68.6 Serious —
Kaufman County, TX 73.8 Serious +5.2
Dallas County, TX 73.7 Serious +5.1
Henderson County, TX 73.6 Serious +5.0
Tarrant County, TX 72.6 Serious +4.0
Johnson County, TX 69.9 Serious +1.3
Navarro County, TX 69.8 Serious +1.3
Hill County, TX 64.7 Elevated -3.9

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Ellis County
Delaware County, IN 68.6 Serious 0.0
Houston County, GA 68.6 Serious +0.0
Grayson County, TX 68.6 Serious +0.0
Montgomery County, TN 68.5 Serious -0.1
St. Martin Parish, LA 68.5 Serious -0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Ellis 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 Ellis 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 Ellis County, Texas?

    Ellis County has a County Distress Index score of 68.6 out of 100, placing it in the Serious zone. It ranks 457th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 72nd in Texas out of 254 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Ellis County?

    The primary driver of distress in Ellis County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 81.6 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Ellis County compare to neighboring counties?

    Ellis County (68.6) can be compared to its 7 neighboring counties: Kaufman County, TX (73.8); Dallas County, TX (73.7); Henderson County, TX (73.6).

  • 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 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). Ellis County's score of 68.6 sits in the Serious zone (71–86).

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

    Ellis 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 Ellis County?

    Ellis County, Texas has a population of approximately 222,829 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.