Gonzales County, Texas

County Distress Index: Elevated · 59.4 | 19,930 people · 146th most distressed in Texas
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Gonzales County, TX registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 59.4 — 994th 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 146th of 254 counties. Among its 7 neighboring counties, 4 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Gonzales County's primary driver is Consumer Credit Distress at 80.6 — worse than roughly 81% of U.S. counties.

Consumer Credit Distress Primary driver 80.6
Debt in Collections 91
Medical Debt 95
Auto Loan Delinquency 65
Credit Card Delinquency 58
Uninsured Rate 91
Subprime Credit Population 87
Structural Poverty 56.3
Unemployment Rate 41
Poverty Rate 76
Income vs. State Median 67
Child Poverty Rate 79
Disability Rate 59
Transfer Income Dependency 25
Economic Vitality 39.0
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 17
Rent-to-Income Ratio 47
Business Formation Rate 57
House Price Change (YoY) 95
Housing Cost Burden 37.7
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 33
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 18
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 72
Homeownership Rate 71
Legal Distress 19.5
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 20

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Gonzales County
Gonzales County, TX 59.4 Elevated —
Caldwell County, TX 70.5 Serious +11.1
Karnes County, TX 69.2 Serious +9.8
DeWitt County, TX 64.2 Elevated +4.8
Guadalupe County, TX 52.9 Elevated -6.5
Wilson County, TX 51.2 Elevated -8.2
Fayette County, TX 46.7 Normal -12.7
Lavaca County, TX 36.7 Normal -22.7

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Gonzales County
Henderson County, KY 59.4 Elevated -0.0
Caldwell County, KY 59.5 Elevated +0.1
Stephens County, OK 59.3 Elevated -0.1
Independence County, AR 59.3 Elevated -0.1
McNairy County, TN 59.5 Elevated +0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Gonzales 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 Gonzales 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 Gonzales County, Texas?

    Gonzales County has a County Distress Index score of 59.4 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 994th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 146th in Texas out of 254 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Gonzales County?

    The primary driver of distress in Gonzales County is Consumer Credit Distress, where the county scores 80.6 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Debt in Collections, Medical Debt, Auto Loan Delinquency.

  • How does Gonzales County compare to neighboring counties?

    Gonzales County (59.4) can be compared to its 7 neighboring counties: Caldwell County, TX (70.5); Karnes County, TX (69.2); DeWitt County, TX (64.2).

  • 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). Gonzales County's score of 59.4 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Gonzales 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 Gonzales County?

    Gonzales County, Texas has a population of approximately 19,930 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.