Jim Wells County, Texas

County Distress Index: Crisis · 81.0 | 38,662 people · 1st most distressed in Texas
American Default Research

Behind on your mortgage or facing eviction? Take a 2-minute assessment to see your options.

Jim Wells County, TX ranks among the most financially distressed counties in America with a score of 81.0 — 53rd 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 1st 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. Jim Wells County's primary driver is Consumer Credit Distress at 95.4 — worse than roughly 95% of U.S. counties.

Consumer Credit Distress Primary driver 95.4
Debt in Collections 99
Medical Debt 91
Auto Loan Delinquency 94
Credit Card Delinquency 91
Uninsured Rate 97
Subprime Credit Population 99
Housing Cost Burden 82.7
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 91
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 93
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 24
Homeownership Rate 79
Structural Poverty 82.3
Unemployment Rate 78
Poverty Rate 89
Income vs. State Median 85
Child Poverty Rate 90
Disability Rate 61
Transfer Income Dependency 86
Economic Vitality 56.4
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 46
Rent-to-Income Ratio 67
Business Formation Rate 93
House Price Change (YoY) 7
Legal Distress 11.4
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 11

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Jim Wells County
Jim Wells County, TX 81.0 Crisis —
Kleberg County, TX 78.6 Serious -2.4
Nueces County, TX 76.3 Serious -4.7
San Patricio County, TX 72.6 Serious -8.4
Brooks County, TX 69.9 Serious -11.1
Duval County, TX 68.7 Serious -12.3
Live Oak County, TX 60.4 Elevated -20.6

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Jim Wells County
Brooks County, GA 81.0 Crisis +0.0
Williamsburg County, SC 81.1 Crisis +0.2
Scotland County, NC 81.2 Crisis +0.2
Cook County, GA 80.7 Crisis -0.3
Grady County, GA 80.4 Crisis -0.5

Download Data

Export all distress indicators for Jim Wells County as a CSV file.

Find Help in Jim Wells 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 Jim Wells 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 →

Continue Reading

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the distress score for Jim Wells County, Texas?

    Jim Wells County has a County Distress Index score of 81.0 out of 100, placing it in the Crisis zone. It ranks 53rd nationally out of 3,144 counties and 1st in Texas out of 254 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Jim Wells County?

    The primary driver of distress in Jim Wells County is Consumer Credit Distress, where the county scores 95.4 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Debt in Collections, Medical Debt, Auto Loan Delinquency.

  • How does Jim Wells County compare to neighboring counties?

    Jim Wells County (81.0) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Kleberg County, TX (78.6); Nueces County, TX (76.3); San Patricio County, TX (72.6).

  • 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 Crisis 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). Jim Wells County's score of 81.0 sits in the Crisis zone (86 and above).

  • What data sources power Jim Wells County's CDI score?

    Jim Wells 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 Jim Wells County?

    Jim Wells County, Texas has a population of approximately 38,662 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.