Gaines County, Texas

County Distress Index: Normal · 40.7 | 22,523 people · 244th most distressed in Texas
American Default Research

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Gaines County, TX falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 40.7 — 2153rd 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 244th of 254 counties. It scores lower 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. Gaines County's primary driver is Consumer Credit Distress at 65.3 — above the national median.

Consumer Credit Distress Primary driver 65.3
Debt in Collections 64
Medical Debt 95
Auto Loan Delinquency 12
Credit Card Delinquency 72
Uninsured Rate 99
Subprime Credit Population 75
Structural Poverty 29.2
Unemployment Rate 19
Poverty Rate 48
Income vs. State Median 29
Child Poverty Rate 58
Disability Rate 26
Transfer Income Dependency 6
Housing Cost Burden 16.8
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 14
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 13
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 9
Homeownership Rate 38
Economic Vitality 14.8
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 6
Rent-to-Income Ratio 17
Business Formation Rate 12
House Price Change (YoY) 61
Legal Distress 7.8
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 8

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Gaines County
Gaines County, TX 40.7 Normal —
Terry County, TX 76.8 Serious +36.1
Dawson County, TX 68.5 Serious +27.8
Lea County, NM 63.6 Elevated +22.9
Andrews County, TX 50.3 Elevated +9.6
Martin County, TX 49.1 Normal +8.5
Yoakum County, TX 42.8 Normal +2.1

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Gaines County
Fayette County, IL 40.7 Normal 0.0
Susquehanna County, PA 40.7 Normal 0.0
Bedford County, PA 40.7 Normal +0.0
Edgar County, IL 40.7 Normal +0.0
Pacific County, WA 40.8 Normal +0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Gaines 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 Gaines 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 Gaines County, Texas?

    Gaines County has a County Distress Index score of 40.7 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 2,153rd nationally out of 3,144 counties and 244th in Texas out of 254 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Gaines County?

    The primary driver of distress in Gaines County is Consumer Credit Distress, where the county scores 65.3 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Debt in Collections, Medical Debt, Auto Loan Delinquency.

  • How does Gaines County compare to neighboring counties?

    Gaines County (40.7) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Terry County, TX (76.8); Dawson County, TX (68.5); Lea County, NM (63.6).

  • 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 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). Gaines County's score of 40.7 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Gaines 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 Gaines County?

    Gaines County, Texas has a population of approximately 22,523 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.