Hidalgo County, Texas

County Distress Index: Serious · 79.2 | 898,471 people · 4th most distressed in Texas
American Default Research

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Hidalgo County, TX shows significant household financial distress with a score of 79.2 — 79th 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 4th of 254 counties. Among its 5 neighboring counties, 4 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Hidalgo County's primary driver is Consumer Credit Distress at 93.9 — worse than roughly 94% of U.S. counties.

Consumer Credit Distress Primary driver 93.9
Debt in Collections 99
Medical Debt 95
Auto Loan Delinquency 89
Credit Card Delinquency 86
Uninsured Rate 99
Subprime Credit Population 97
Housing Cost Burden 78.2
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 76
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 87
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 56
Homeownership Rate 78
Structural Poverty 75.9
Unemployment Rate 94
Poverty Rate 97
Income vs. State Median 79
Child Poverty Rate 97
Disability Rate 20
Transfer Income Dependency 72
Economic Vitality 69.0
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 78
Rent-to-Income Ratio 73
Business Formation Rate 50
House Price Change (YoY) 45
Legal Distress 6.6
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 7

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Hidalgo County
Hidalgo County, TX 79.2 Serious —
Starr County, TX 80.3 Crisis +1.1
Cameron County, TX 78.3 Serious -0.9
Willacy County, TX 76.2 Serious -3.0
Brooks County, TX 69.9 Serious -9.3
Kenedy County, TX 55.5 Elevated -23.7

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Hidalgo County
Osceola County, FL 79.1 Serious -0.1
Chatham County, GA 79.0 Serious -0.2
Polk County, FL 79.0 Serious -0.2
Webb County, TX 78.4 Serious -0.8
Henry County, GA 78.3 Serious -0.9

Download Data

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

Find Help in Hidalgo County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Hidalgo County.

AFFORDABLE HOMES OF SOUTH TEXAS, INC.
McAllen
956-687-6263 Website
Foreclosure PreventionFinancial CounselingFinancial CounselingFair Housing

See all counselors in Texas →

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 Hidalgo 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 Hidalgo County, Texas?

    Hidalgo County has a County Distress Index score of 79.2 out of 100, placing it in the Serious zone. It ranks 79th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 4th in Texas out of 254 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Hidalgo County?

    The primary driver of distress in Hidalgo County is Consumer Credit Distress, where the county scores 93.9 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Debt in Collections, Medical Debt, Auto Loan Delinquency.

  • How does Hidalgo County compare to neighboring counties?

    Hidalgo County (79.2) can be compared to its 5 neighboring counties: Starr County, TX (80.3); Cameron County, TX (78.3); Willacy County, TX (76.2).

  • 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 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). Hidalgo County's score of 79.2 sits in the Serious zone (71–86).

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

    Hidalgo 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 Hidalgo County?

    Hidalgo County, Texas has a population of approximately 898,471 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a large county.