Hamilton County, Texas

County Distress Index: Elevated · 56.2 | 8,619 people · 157th most distressed in Texas
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Hamilton County, TX registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 56.2 — 1191st 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 157th of 254 counties. Its score is in the middle of its 6 neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Hamilton County's primary driver is Consumer Credit Distress at 69.5 — above the national median.

Consumer Credit Distress Primary driver 69.5
Debt in Collections 85
Medical Debt 95
Auto Loan Delinquency 49
Credit Card Delinquency 66
Uninsured Rate 88
Subprime Credit Population 50
Structural Poverty 56.5
Unemployment Rate 55
Poverty Rate 51
Income vs. State Median 55
Child Poverty Rate 67
Disability Rate 84
Transfer Income Dependency 37
Legal Distress 50.7
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 51
Economic Vitality 40.4
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 43
Rent-to-Income Ratio 35
Business Formation Rate 27
House Price Change (YoY) 69
Housing Cost Burden 35.8
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 50
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 15
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 60
Homeownership Rate 33

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Hamilton County
Hamilton County, TX 56.2 Elevated —
Erath County, TX 69.2 Serious +13.0
Coryell County, TX 66.6 Serious +10.4
Lampasas County, TX 59.8 Elevated +3.6
Bosque County, TX 53.2 Elevated -3.0
Comanche County, TX 49.8 Normal -6.4
Mills County, TX 48.4 Normal -7.8

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Hamilton County
Childress County, TX 56.1 Elevated -0.1
St. Clair County, MO 56.3 Elevated +0.1
Motley County, TX 56.1 Elevated -0.1
Livingston County, KY 55.8 Elevated -0.3
Cumberland County, KY 56.6 Elevated +0.4

Download Data

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

Find Help in Hamilton 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 Hamilton 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 Hamilton County, Texas?

    Hamilton County has a County Distress Index score of 56.2 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 1,191st nationally out of 3,144 counties and 157th in Texas out of 254 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Hamilton County?

    The primary driver of distress in Hamilton County is Consumer Credit Distress, where the county scores 69.5 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Debt in Collections, Medical Debt, Auto Loan Delinquency.

  • How does Hamilton County compare to neighboring counties?

    Hamilton County (56.2) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Erath County, TX (69.2); Coryell County, TX (66.6); Lampasas County, TX (59.8).

  • 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). Hamilton County's score of 56.2 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Hamilton 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 Hamilton County?

    Hamilton County, Texas has a population of approximately 8,619 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a tiny county.