Hemphill County, Texas

County Distress Index: Normal · 47.5 | 3,189 people · 216th most distressed in Texas
American Default Research

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Hemphill County, TX falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 47.5 — 1745th 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 216th 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. Hemphill County's primary driver is Consumer Credit Distress at 67.5 — above the national median.

Consumer Credit Distress Primary driver 67.5
Debt in Collections 71
Medical Debt 91
Auto Loan Delinquency 74
Credit Card Delinquency 77
Uninsured Rate 94
Subprime Credit Population 26
Housing Cost Burden 38.3
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 65
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 18
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 16
Homeownership Rate 39
Structural Poverty 32.2
Unemployment Rate 67
Poverty Rate 21
Income vs. State Median 17
Child Poverty Rate 27
Disability Rate 81
Transfer Income Dependency 5
Economic Vitality 23.7
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 6
Rent-to-Income Ratio 6
Business Formation Rate 62
House Price Change (YoY) 95
Legal Distress 5.0
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 5

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Hemphill County
Hemphill County, TX 47.5 Normal —
Gray County, TX 63.2 Elevated +15.7
Ellis County, OK 60.2 Elevated +12.7
Wheeler County, TX 54.9 Elevated +7.4
Roberts County, TX 47.3 Normal -0.3
Roger Mills County, OK 37.1 Normal -10.4
Lipscomb County, TX 29.0 Healthy -18.6

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Hemphill County
Grundy County, MO 47.5 Normal -0.1
Cameron County, PA 47.6 Normal +0.1
Concho County, TX 47.6 Normal +0.1
Fisher County, TX 47.5 Normal -0.1
Alfalfa County, OK 47.6 Normal +0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Hemphill 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 Hemphill 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 Hemphill County, Texas?

    Hemphill County has a County Distress Index score of 47.5 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 1,745th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 216th in Texas out of 254 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Hemphill County?

    The primary driver of distress in Hemphill County is Consumer Credit Distress, where the county scores 67.5 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Debt in Collections, Medical Debt, Auto Loan Delinquency.

  • How does Hemphill County compare to neighboring counties?

    Hemphill County (47.5) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Gray County, TX (63.2); Ellis County, OK (60.2); Wheeler County, TX (54.9).

  • 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 Normal 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). Hemphill County's score of 47.5 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Hemphill 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 Hemphill County?

    Hemphill County, Texas has a population of approximately 3,189 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a tiny county.