Galveston County, Texas

County Distress Index: Elevated · 64.4 | 361,744 people · 98th most distressed in Texas
American Default Research

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Galveston County, TX registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 64.4 — 676th 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 98th of 254 counties. Among its 3 neighboring counties, 2 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Galveston County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 88.7 — worse than roughly 89% of U.S. counties.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 88.7
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 91
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 94
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 77
Homeownership Rate 79
Consumer Credit Distress 66.7
Debt in Collections 75
Medical Debt 52
Auto Loan Delinquency 60
Credit Card Delinquency 62
Uninsured Rate 84
Subprime Credit Population 70
Economic Vitality 66.4
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 80
Rent-to-Income Ratio 65
Business Formation Rate 28
House Price Change (YoY) 75
Legal Distress 44.7
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 45
Structural Poverty 26.3
Unemployment Rate 64
Poverty Rate 33
Income vs. State Median 7
Child Poverty Rate 34
Disability Rate 24
Transfer Income Dependency 15

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Galveston County
Galveston County, TX 64.4 Elevated —
Harris County, TX 70.6 Serious +6.2
Brazoria County, TX 58.4 Elevated -6.1
Chambers County, TX 46.8 Normal -17.6

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Galveston County
Stanislaus County, CA 64.5 Elevated +0.0
Lee County, FL 64.1 Elevated -0.3
Davidson County, TN 63.9 Elevated -0.5
Lake County, FL 65.0 Serious +0.6
Pasco County, FL 65.2 Serious +0.8

Download Data

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

Find Help in Galveston 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 Galveston 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 Galveston County, Texas?

    Galveston County has a County Distress Index score of 64.4 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 676th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 98th in Texas out of 254 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Galveston County?

    The primary driver of distress in Galveston County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 88.7 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Galveston County compare to neighboring counties?

    Galveston County (64.4) can be compared to its 3 neighboring counties: Harris County, TX (70.6); Brazoria County, TX (58.4); Chambers County, TX (46.8).

  • 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 Elevated 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). Galveston County's score of 64.4 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Galveston 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 Galveston County?

    Galveston County, Texas has a population of approximately 361,744 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a large county.