Erath County, Texas

County Distress Index: Serious · 69.2 | 44,195 people · 63rd most distressed in Texas
American Default Research

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Erath County, TX shows significant household financial distress with a score of 69.2 — 430th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Housing Cost Burden, where a large share of households spend more than 30% of income on housing. Within Texas, it ranks 63rd of 254 counties. Among its 7 neighboring counties, 6 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Erath County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 90.2 — worse than roughly 90% of U.S. counties.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 90.2
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 92
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 99
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 59
Homeownership Rate 87
Consumer Credit Distress 74.2
Debt in Collections 78
Medical Debt 99
Auto Loan Delinquency 59
Credit Card Delinquency 63
Uninsured Rate 91
Subprime Credit Population 70
Economic Vitality 61.6
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 79
Rent-to-Income Ratio 61
Business Formation Rate 27
House Price Change (YoY) 45
Legal Distress 41.4
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 41
Structural Poverty 37.8
Unemployment Rate 30
Poverty Rate 67
Income vs. State Median 38
Child Poverty Rate 48
Disability Rate 24
Transfer Income Dependency 25

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Erath County
Erath County, TX 69.2 Serious —
Palo Pinto County, TX 72.2 Serious +3.0
Eastland County, TX 59.7 Elevated -9.5
Hood County, TX 58.4 Elevated -10.8
Hamilton County, TX 56.2 Elevated -13.0
Bosque County, TX 53.2 Elevated -16.0
Comanche County, TX 49.8 Normal -19.4
Somervell County, TX 32.8 Healthy -36.4

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Erath County
Pointe Coupee Parish, LA 69.2 Serious +0.0
Heard County, GA 69.2 Serious +0.0
Yalobusha County, MS 69.2 Serious +0.0
Geneva County, AL 69.2 Serious +0.0
Karnes County, TX 69.2 Serious -0.0

Download Data

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

Find Help in Erath 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 Erath 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 Erath County, Texas?

    Erath County has a County Distress Index score of 69.2 out of 100, placing it in the Serious zone. It ranks 430th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 63rd in Texas out of 254 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Erath County?

    The primary driver of distress in Erath County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 90.2 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Erath County compare to neighboring counties?

    Erath County (69.2) can be compared to its 7 neighboring counties: Palo Pinto County, TX (72.2); Eastland County, TX (59.7); Hood County, TX (58.4).

  • 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). Erath County's score of 69.2 sits in the Serious zone (71–86).

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

    Erath 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 Erath County?

    Erath County, Texas has a population of approximately 44,195 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.