Fayette County, Texas

County Distress Index: Normal · 46.7 | 25,474 people · 224th most distressed in Texas
American Default Research

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Fayette County, TX falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 46.7 — 1797th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Consumer Credit Distress, where debt and delinquency levels sit above the national average. Within Texas, it ranks 224th of 254 counties. Among its 8 neighboring counties, 7 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Fayette County's primary driver is Consumer Credit Distress at 63.3 — above the national median.

Consumer Credit Distress Primary driver 63.3
Debt in Collections 54
Medical Debt 75
Auto Loan Delinquency 75
Credit Card Delinquency 68
Uninsured Rate 67
Subprime Credit Population 50
Housing Cost Burden 41.0
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 47
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 49
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 22
Homeownership Rate 20
Structural Poverty 28.4
Unemployment Rate 41
Poverty Rate 15
Income vs. State Median 19
Child Poverty Rate 26
Disability Rate 43
Transfer Income Dependency 32
Economic Vitality 26.6
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 21
Rent-to-Income Ratio 12
Business Formation Rate 35
House Price Change (YoY) 81
Legal Distress 16.3
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 16

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Fayette County
Fayette County, TX 46.7 Normal —
Caldwell County, TX 70.5 Serious +23.7
Bastrop County, TX 61.1 Elevated +14.4
Austin County, TX 60.3 Elevated +13.6
Gonzales County, TX 59.4 Elevated +12.7
Lee County, TX 54.9 Elevated +8.1
Washington County, TX 52.0 Elevated +5.3
Colorado County, TX 49.4 Normal +2.7
Lavaca County, TX 36.7 Normal -10.0

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Fayette County
Alexander County, NC 46.7 Normal -0.0
Ray County, MO 46.6 Normal -0.1
Colusa County, CA 46.8 Normal +0.1
Clay County, IN 46.6 Normal -0.1
Stokes County, NC 46.6 Normal -0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Fayette 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 Fayette 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 Fayette County, Texas?

    Fayette County has a County Distress Index score of 46.7 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 1,797th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 224th in Texas out of 254 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Fayette County?

    The primary driver of distress in Fayette County is Consumer Credit Distress, where the county scores 63.3 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Debt in Collections, Medical Debt, Auto Loan Delinquency.

  • How does Fayette County compare to neighboring counties?

    Fayette County (46.7) can be compared to its 8 neighboring counties: Caldwell County, TX (70.5); Bastrop County, TX (61.1); Austin County, TX (60.3).

  • 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 Normal 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). Fayette County's score of 46.7 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Fayette 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 Fayette County?

    Fayette County, Texas has a population of approximately 25,474 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.