Grimes County, Texas

County Distress Index: Elevated · 60.7 | 32,384 people · 133rd most distressed in Texas
American Default Research

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Grimes County, TX registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 60.7 — 909th 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 133rd of 254 counties. Among its 6 neighboring counties, 4 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Grimes County's primary driver is Consumer Credit Distress at 76.3 — worse than roughly 76% of U.S. counties.

Consumer Credit Distress Primary driver 76.3
Debt in Collections 84
Medical Debt 86
Auto Loan Delinquency 64
Credit Card Delinquency 68
Uninsured Rate 97
Subprime Credit Population 72
Housing Cost Burden 65.0
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 87
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 69
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 29
Homeownership Rate 29
Structural Poverty 49.4
Unemployment Rate 67
Poverty Rate 61
Income vs. State Median 33
Child Poverty Rate 65
Disability Rate 29
Transfer Income Dependency 52
Economic Vitality 25.4
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 15
Rent-to-Income Ratio 37
Business Formation Rate 26
House Price Change (YoY) 42
Legal Distress 11.9
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 12

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Grimes County
Grimes County, TX 60.7 Elevated —
Walker County, TX 72.1 Serious +11.4
Madison County, TX 69.0 Serious +8.3
Brazos County, TX 65.3 Serious +4.6
Waller County, TX 60.8 Elevated +0.1
Montgomery County, TX 56.3 Elevated -4.4
Washington County, TX 52.0 Elevated -8.6

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Grimes County
Russell County, KY 60.7 Elevated -0.0
Pecos County, TX 60.6 Elevated -0.0
McDonough County, IL 60.7 Elevated +0.0
Cooke County, TX 60.6 Elevated -0.0
Miami County, IN 60.7 Elevated +0.0

Download Data

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

Find Help in Grimes 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 Grimes 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 Grimes County, Texas?

    Grimes County has a County Distress Index score of 60.7 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 909th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 133rd in Texas out of 254 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Grimes County?

    The primary driver of distress in Grimes County is Consumer Credit Distress, where the county scores 76.3 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Debt in Collections, Medical Debt, Auto Loan Delinquency.

  • How does Grimes County compare to neighboring counties?

    Grimes County (60.7) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Walker County, TX (72.1); Madison County, TX (69.0); Brazos County, TX (65.3).

  • 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 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). Grimes County's score of 60.7 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Grimes 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 Grimes County?

    Grimes County, Texas has a population of approximately 32,384 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.