Lubbock County, Texas

County Distress Index: Serious · 74.3 | 320,940 people · 22nd most distressed in Texas
American Default Research

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Lubbock County, TX shows significant household financial distress with a score of 74.3 — 214th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Housing Cost Burden, where a large share of households spend more than 30% of income on housing. Within Texas, it ranks 22nd of 254 counties. Among its 8 neighboring counties, 6 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Lubbock County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 92.0 — worse than roughly 92% of U.S. counties.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 92.0
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 91
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 94
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 80
Homeownership Rate 96
Consumer Credit Distress 84.2
Debt in Collections 87
Medical Debt 82
Auto Loan Delinquency 80
Credit Card Delinquency 81
Uninsured Rate 84
Subprime Credit Population 89
Economic Vitality 60.4
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 58
Rent-to-Income Ratio 76
Business Formation Rate 33
House Price Change (YoY) 79
Structural Poverty 44.8
Unemployment Rate 27
Poverty Rate 73
Income vs. State Median 61
Child Poverty Rate 60
Disability Rate 27
Transfer Income Dependency 22
Legal Distress 29.4
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 29

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Lubbock County
Lubbock County, TX 74.3 Serious —
Terry County, TX 76.8 Serious +2.5
Crosby County, TX 74.8 Serious +0.5
Hale County, TX 72.3 Serious -2.0
Floyd County, TX 65.4 Serious -8.9
Hockley County, TX 64.3 Elevated -10.0
Lamb County, TX 59.5 Elevated -14.8
Garza County, TX 59.3 Elevated -15.0
Lynn County, TX 51.1 Elevated -23.2

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Lubbock County
Cumberland County, NC 74.3 Serious -0.0
St. Louis city, MO 73.9 Serious -0.4
Escambia County, FL 73.6 Serious -0.7
Prince George's County, MD 73.5 Serious -0.8
Jefferson County, TX 73.3 Serious -1.0

Download Data

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

Find Help in Lubbock County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Lubbock County.

NORTH & EAST LUBBOCK COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
Lubbock
806-747-5937 Website
Financial CounselingFinancial CounselingPost-PurchasePre-Purchase

See all counselors in Texas →

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 Lubbock 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 Lubbock County, Texas?

    Lubbock County has a County Distress Index score of 74.3 out of 100, placing it in the Serious zone. It ranks 214th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 22nd in Texas out of 254 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Lubbock County?

    The primary driver of distress in Lubbock County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 92.0 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Lubbock County compare to neighboring counties?

    Lubbock County (74.3) can be compared to its 8 neighboring counties: Terry County, TX (76.8); Crosby County, TX (74.8); Hale County, TX (72.3).

  • 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 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). Lubbock County's score of 74.3 sits in the Serious zone (71–86).

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

    Lubbock 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 Lubbock County?

    Lubbock County, Texas has a population of approximately 320,940 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a large county.