Knox County, Texas

County Distress Index: Elevated · 51.6 | 3,302 people · 190th most distressed in Texas
American Default Research

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Knox County, TX registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 51.6 — 1473rd nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Structural Poverty, where poverty rates are high, transfer income dependency is elevated, and household incomes lag well behind state and national medians. Within Texas, it ranks 190th of 254 counties. Among its 6 neighboring counties, 5 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Knox County's primary driver is Structural Poverty at 74.2 — above the national median.

Structural Poverty Primary driver 74.2
Unemployment Rate 23
Poverty Rate 87
Income vs. State Median 70
Child Poverty Rate 93
Disability Rate 63
Transfer Income Dependency 94
Consumer Credit Distress 69.1
Debt in Collections 71
Medical Debt 71
Auto Loan Delinquency 74
Credit Card Delinquency 35
Uninsured Rate 94
Subprime Credit Population 79
Economic Vitality 47.8
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 26
Rent-to-Income Ratio 50
Business Formation Rate 89
House Price Change (YoY) 70
Legal Distress 15.1
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 15
Housing Cost Burden 14.4
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 16
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 10
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 5
Homeownership Rate 29

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Knox County
Knox County, TX 51.6 Elevated —
Foard County, TX 69.5 Serious +17.9
Baylor County, TX 64.1 Elevated +12.4
Haskell County, TX 63.5 Elevated +11.9
Throckmorton County, TX 57.9 Elevated +6.3
Stonewall County, TX 54.2 Elevated +2.5
King County, TX 46.4 Normal -5.2

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Knox County
Kent County, TX 51.6 Elevated 0.0
De Baca County, NM 51.7 Elevated +0.1
Cottle County, TX 51.6 Elevated -0.1
Van Buren County, TN 51.8 Elevated +0.1
Sterling County, TX 52.0 Elevated +0.3

Download Data

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

Find Help in Knox 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 Knox 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 Knox County, Texas?

    Knox County has a County Distress Index score of 51.6 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 1,473rd nationally out of 3,144 counties and 190th in Texas out of 254 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Knox County?

    The primary driver of distress in Knox County is Structural Poverty, where the county scores 74.2 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Unemployment Rate, Poverty Rate, Income vs. State Median.

  • How does Knox County compare to neighboring counties?

    Knox County (51.6) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Foard County, TX (69.5); Baylor County, TX (64.1); Haskell County, TX (63.5).

  • 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 Elevated 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). Knox County's score of 51.6 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Knox 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 Knox County?

    Knox County, Texas has a population of approximately 3,302 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a tiny county.