Hardeman County, Texas

County Distress Index: Serious · 69.9 | 3,490 people · 55th most distressed in Texas
American Default Research

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Hardeman County, TX shows significant household financial distress with a score of 69.9 — 394th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Legal Distress, where bankruptcy filing rates are well above the national average. Within Texas, it ranks 55th of 254 counties. It scores higher 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. Hardeman County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 92.3 — worse than roughly 92% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 92.3
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 92
Consumer Credit Distress 83.2
Debt in Collections 95
Medical Debt 95
Auto Loan Delinquency 74
Credit Card Delinquency 89
Uninsured Rate 92
Subprime Credit Population 64
Structural Poverty 75.5
Unemployment Rate 19
Poverty Rate 70
Income vs. State Median 86
Child Poverty Rate 81
Disability Rate 95
Transfer Income Dependency 85
Economic Vitality 61.6
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 52
Rent-to-Income Ratio 68
Business Formation Rate 73
House Price Change (YoY) 70
Housing Cost Burden 34.2
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 23
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 22
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 59
Homeownership Rate 72

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Hardeman County
Hardeman County, TX 69.9 Serious —
Foard County, TX 69.5 Serious -0.4
Wilbarger County, TX 66.7 Serious -3.2
Harmon County, OK 65.5 Serious -4.4
Jackson County, OK 57.9 Elevated -12.0
Childress County, TX 56.1 Elevated -13.8
Cottle County, TX 51.6 Elevated -18.3

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Hardeman County
Brooks County, TX 69.9 Serious +0.0
Quitman County, GA 70.0 Serious +0.1
Liberty County, FL 70.0 Serious +0.1
Tillman County, OK 69.8 Serious -0.1
Zavala County, TX 69.7 Serious -0.2

Download Data

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

Find Help in Hardeman 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 Hardeman 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 Hardeman County, Texas?

    Hardeman County has a County Distress Index score of 69.9 out of 100, placing it in the Serious zone. It ranks 394th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 55th in Texas out of 254 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Hardeman County?

    The primary driver of distress in Hardeman County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 92.3 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Hardeman County compare to neighboring counties?

    Hardeman County (69.9) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Foard County, TX (69.5); Wilbarger County, TX (66.7); Harmon County, OK (65.5).

  • 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 Serious 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). Hardeman County's score of 69.9 sits in the Serious zone (71–86).

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

    Hardeman 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 Hardeman County?

    Hardeman County, Texas has a population of approximately 3,490 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a tiny county.