Kaufman County, Texas

County Distress Index: Serious · 73.8 | 185,690 people · 28th most distressed in Texas
American Default Research

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Kaufman County, TX shows significant household financial distress with a score of 73.8 — 236th 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 28th 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. Kaufman County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 87.8 — worse than roughly 88% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 87.8
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 88
Consumer Credit Distress 86.1
Debt in Collections 88
Medical Debt 90
Auto Loan Delinquency 75
Credit Card Delinquency 85
Uninsured Rate 85
Subprime Credit Population 92
Economic Vitality 76.6
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 97
Rent-to-Income Ratio 83
Business Formation Rate 11
House Price Change (YoY) 79
Housing Cost Burden 75.9
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 94
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 73
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 99
Homeownership Rate 26
Structural Poverty 17.8
Unemployment Rate 55
Poverty Rate 17
Income vs. State Median 4
Child Poverty Rate 27
Disability Rate 9
Transfer Income Dependency 10

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Kaufman County
Kaufman County, TX 73.8 Serious —
Dallas County, TX 73.7 Serious -0.1
Hunt County, TX 73.6 Serious -0.1
Henderson County, TX 73.6 Serious -0.2
Ellis County, TX 68.6 Serious -5.2
Van Zandt County, TX 61.7 Elevated -12.1
Rockwall County, TX 53.3 Elevated -20.4

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Kaufman County
Harrison County, MS 73.8 Serious +0.0
Victoria County, TX 73.8 Serious +0.1
Hunt County, TX 73.6 Serious -0.1
Henderson County, TX 73.6 Serious -0.2
Clarke County, GA 73.6 Serious -0.2

Download Data

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

Find Help in Kaufman 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 Kaufman 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 Kaufman County, Texas?

    Kaufman County has a County Distress Index score of 73.8 out of 100, placing it in the Serious zone. It ranks 236th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 28th in Texas out of 254 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Kaufman County?

    The primary driver of distress in Kaufman County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 87.8 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Kaufman County compare to neighboring counties?

    Kaufman County (73.8) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Dallas County, TX (73.7); Hunt County, TX (73.6); Henderson County, TX (73.6).

  • 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 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). Kaufman County's score of 73.8 sits in the Serious zone (71–86).

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

    Kaufman 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 Kaufman County?

    Kaufman County, Texas has a population of approximately 185,690 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.