Madison County, Texas

County Distress Index: Serious · 69.0 | 13,742 people · 66th most distressed in Texas
American Default Research

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Madison County, TX shows significant household financial distress with a score of 69.0 — 438th 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 66th of 254 counties. Among its 6 neighboring counties, 5 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Madison County's primary driver is Consumer Credit Distress at 88.8 — worse than roughly 89% of U.S. counties.

Consumer Credit Distress Primary driver 88.8
Debt in Collections 95
Medical Debt 95
Auto Loan Delinquency 87
Credit Card Delinquency 92
Uninsured Rate 88
Subprime Credit Population 78
Structural Poverty 66.3
Unemployment Rate 64
Poverty Rate 79
Income vs. State Median 78
Child Poverty Rate 72
Disability Rate 39
Transfer Income Dependency 63
Housing Cost Burden 56.6
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 44
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 74
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 22
Homeownership Rate 67
Economic Vitality 45.4
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 29
Rent-to-Income Ratio 57
Business Formation Rate 53
House Price Change (YoY) 75
Legal Distress 14.0
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 14

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Madison County
Madison County, TX 69.0 Serious —
Walker County, TX 72.1 Serious +3.0
Houston County, TX 67.6 Serious -1.4
Brazos County, TX 65.3 Serious -3.8
Robertson County, TX 62.5 Elevated -6.5
Grimes County, TX 60.7 Elevated -8.3
Leon County, TX 52.1 Elevated -16.9

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Madison County
Essex County, VA 69.0 Serious +0.0
Jackson County, OH 69.0 Serious -0.0
Washington County, MO 69.1 Serious +0.1
Nolan County, TX 68.9 Serious -0.1
Curry County, NM 68.9 Serious -0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Madison 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 Madison 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 Madison County, Texas?

    Madison County has a County Distress Index score of 69.0 out of 100, placing it in the Serious zone. It ranks 438th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 66th in Texas out of 254 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Madison County?

    The primary driver of distress in Madison County is Consumer Credit Distress, where the county scores 88.8 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Debt in Collections, Medical Debt, Auto Loan Delinquency.

  • How does Madison County compare to neighboring counties?

    Madison County (69.0) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Walker County, TX (72.1); Houston County, TX (67.6); Brazos County, TX (65.3).

  • 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). Madison County's score of 69.0 sits in the Serious zone (71–86).

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

    Madison 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 Madison County?

    Madison County, Texas has a population of approximately 13,742 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.