Lamb County, Texas

County Distress Index: Elevated · 59.5 | 12,711 people · 145th most distressed in Texas
American Default Research

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Lamb County, TX registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 59.5 — 984th 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 145th of 254 counties. Among its 7 neighboring counties, 4 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Lamb County's primary driver is Consumer Credit Distress at 88.9 — worse than roughly 89% of U.S. counties.

Consumer Credit Distress Primary driver 88.9
Debt in Collections 95
Medical Debt 95
Auto Loan Delinquency 85
Credit Card Delinquency 78
Uninsured Rate 95
Subprime Credit Population 89
Structural Poverty 53.5
Unemployment Rate 34
Poverty Rate 79
Income vs. State Median 64
Child Poverty Rate 80
Disability Rate 36
Transfer Income Dependency 32
Economic Vitality 44.2
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 23
Rent-to-Income Ratio 44
Business Formation Rate 75
House Price Change (YoY) 95
Housing Cost Burden 22.8
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 20
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 14
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 5
Homeownership Rate 62
Legal Distress 11.7
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 12

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Lamb County
Lamb County, TX 59.5 Elevated —
Lubbock County, TX 74.3 Serious +14.8
Hale County, TX 72.3 Serious +12.8
Hockley County, TX 64.3 Elevated +4.8
Cochran County, TX 61.1 Elevated +1.6
Castro County, TX 53.8 Elevated -5.8
Bailey County, TX 48.3 Normal -11.2
Parmer County, TX 48.3 Normal -11.3

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Lamb County
Taylor County, KY 59.5 Elevated 0.0
Wise County, VA 59.5 Elevated -0.0
McNairy County, TN 59.5 Elevated -0.0
Fulton County, AR 59.6 Elevated +0.0
Caldwell County, KY 59.5 Elevated -0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Lamb 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 Lamb 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 Lamb County, Texas?

    Lamb County has a County Distress Index score of 59.5 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 984th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 145th in Texas out of 254 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Lamb County?

    The primary driver of distress in Lamb County is Consumer Credit Distress, where the county scores 88.9 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Debt in Collections, Medical Debt, Auto Loan Delinquency.

  • How does Lamb County compare to neighboring counties?

    Lamb County (59.5) can be compared to its 7 neighboring counties: Lubbock County, TX (74.3); Hale County, TX (72.3); Hockley County, TX (64.3).

  • 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 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). Lamb County's score of 59.5 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Lamb 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 Lamb County?

    Lamb County, Texas has a population of approximately 12,711 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.