Kleberg County, Texas

County Distress Index: Serious · 78.6 | 30,069 people · 5th most distressed in Texas
American Default Research

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Kleberg County, TX shows significant household financial distress with a score of 78.6 — 94th 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 5th of 254 counties. Among its 4 neighboring counties, 3 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Kleberg County's primary driver is Consumer Credit Distress at 89.0 — worse than roughly 89% of U.S. counties.

Consumer Credit Distress Primary driver 89.0
Debt in Collections 99
Medical Debt 92
Auto Loan Delinquency 90
Credit Card Delinquency 62
Uninsured Rate 93
Subprime Credit Population 95
Housing Cost Burden 88.9
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 84
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 96
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 68
Homeownership Rate 97
Economic Vitality 74.7
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 74
Rent-to-Income Ratio 91
Business Formation Rate 85
House Price Change (YoY) 4
Structural Poverty 66.7
Unemployment Rate 61
Poverty Rate 91
Income vs. State Median 79
Child Poverty Rate 89
Disability Rate 23
Transfer Income Dependency 56
Legal Distress 7.2
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 7

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Kleberg County
Kleberg County, TX 78.6 Serious —
Jim Wells County, TX 81.0 Crisis +2.4
Nueces County, TX 76.3 Serious -2.2
Brooks County, TX 69.9 Serious -8.6
Kenedy County, TX 55.5 Elevated -23.1

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Kleberg County
Hardee County, FL 78.6 Serious +0.0
Lanier County, GA 78.7 Serious +0.1
Sunflower County, MS 78.7 Serious +0.1
Decatur County, GA 78.7 Serious +0.2
Pike County, AL 78.4 Serious -0.2

Download Data

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

Find Help in Kleberg 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 Kleberg 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.

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the distress score for Kleberg County, Texas?

    Kleberg County has a County Distress Index score of 78.6 out of 100, placing it in the Serious zone. It ranks 94th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 5th in Texas out of 254 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Kleberg County?

    The primary driver of distress in Kleberg County is Consumer Credit Distress, where the county scores 89.0 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Debt in Collections, Medical Debt, Auto Loan Delinquency.

  • How does Kleberg County compare to neighboring counties?

    Kleberg County (78.6) can be compared to its 4 neighboring counties: Jim Wells County, TX (81.0); Nueces County, TX (76.3); Brooks County, TX (69.9).

  • 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 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). Kleberg County's score of 78.6 sits in the Serious zone (71–86).

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

    Kleberg 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 Kleberg County?

    Kleberg County, Texas has a population of approximately 30,069 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.