Jefferson County, Texas

County Distress Index: Serious · 73.3 | 251,496 people · 34th most distressed in Texas
American Default Research

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Jefferson County, TX shows significant household financial distress with a score of 73.3 — 259th 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 34th 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. Jefferson County's primary driver is Consumer Credit Distress at 87.0 — worse than roughly 87% of U.S. counties.

Consumer Credit Distress Primary driver 87.0
Debt in Collections 94
Medical Debt 89
Auto Loan Delinquency 82
Credit Card Delinquency 76
Uninsured Rate 97
Subprime Credit Population 87
Housing Cost Burden 78.0
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 81
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 84
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 31
Homeownership Rate 90
Structural Poverty 62.8
Unemployment Rate 89
Poverty Rate 86
Income vs. State Median 55
Child Poverty Rate 76
Disability Rate 39
Transfer Income Dependency 47
Legal Distress 41.0
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 41
Economic Vitality 32.7
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 5
Rent-to-Income Ratio 61
Business Formation Rate 39
House Price Change (YoY) 73

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Jefferson County
Jefferson County, TX 73.3 Serious —
Liberty County, TX 76.9 Serious +3.7
Orange County, TX 68.5 Serious -4.8
Hardin County, TX 60.3 Elevated -13.0
Chambers County, TX 46.8 Normal -26.5
Cameron Parish, LA 40.2 Normal -33.1

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Jefferson County
Prince George's County, MD 73.5 Serious +0.2
Marion County, IN 73.0 Serious -0.2
Escambia County, FL 73.6 Serious +0.4
St. Louis city, MO 73.9 Serious +0.6
East Baton Rouge Parish, LA 72.6 Serious -0.7

Download Data

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

Find Help in Jefferson County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Jefferson County.

CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF SOUTHEAST TEXAS
Beaumont
409-924-4425
Foreclosure PreventionFinancial CounselingFinancial CounselingHome Improvement/Rehab
TENDER LOVING CARE CENTER FOR CHILDREN, DBA LEGACY CDC
Port Arthur
409-832-2723
Financial CounselingFinancial CounselingPost-PurchasePre-Purchase

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 Jefferson 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 Jefferson County, Texas?

    Jefferson County has a County Distress Index score of 73.3 out of 100, placing it in the Serious zone. It ranks 259th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 34th in Texas out of 254 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Jefferson County?

    The primary driver of distress in Jefferson County is Consumer Credit Distress, where the county scores 87.0 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Debt in Collections, Medical Debt, Auto Loan Delinquency.

  • How does Jefferson County compare to neighboring counties?

    Jefferson County (73.3) can be compared to its 5 neighboring counties: Liberty County, TX (76.9); Orange County, TX (68.5); Hardin County, TX (60.3).

  • 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 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). Jefferson County's score of 73.3 sits in the Serious zone (71–86).

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

    Jefferson 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 Jefferson County?

    Jefferson County, Texas has a population of approximately 251,496 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a large county.