Marion County, Texas

County Distress Index: Serious · 68.7 | 9,571 people · 68th most distressed in Texas
American Default Research

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Marion County, TX shows significant household financial distress with a score of 68.7 — 448th 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 68th of 254 counties. Among its 5 neighboring counties, 3 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Marion County's primary driver is Structural Poverty at 92.6 — worse than roughly 93% of U.S. counties.

Structural Poverty Primary driver 92.6
Unemployment Rate 89
Poverty Rate 90
Income vs. State Median 92
Child Poverty Rate 94
Disability Rate 93
Transfer Income Dependency 95
Consumer Credit Distress 74.7
Debt in Collections 90
Medical Debt 95
Auto Loan Delinquency 56
Credit Card Delinquency 52
Uninsured Rate 86
Subprime Credit Population 75
Legal Distress 69.1
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 69
Economic Vitality 62.8
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 63
Rent-to-Income Ratio 77
Business Formation Rate 24
House Price Change (YoY) 95
Housing Cost Burden 43.7
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 73
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 29
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 7
Homeownership Rate 33

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Marion County
Marion County, TX 68.7 Serious —
Caddo Parish, LA 82.7 Crisis +14.0
Morris County, TX 70.2 Serious +1.5
Cass County, TX 67.0 Serious -1.7
Harrison County, TX 65.9 Serious -2.9
Upshur County, TX 65.0 Serious -3.7

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Marion County
Scott County, AR 68.7 Serious +0.0
McCulloch County, TX 68.7 Serious -0.0
Duval County, TX 68.7 Serious -0.1
Irwin County, GA 68.8 Serious +0.1
Dickens County, TX 68.5 Serious -0.2

Download Data

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

Find Help in Marion 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 Marion 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 Marion County, Texas?

    Marion County has a County Distress Index score of 68.7 out of 100, placing it in the Serious zone. It ranks 448th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 68th in Texas out of 254 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Marion County?

    The primary driver of distress in Marion County is Structural Poverty, where the county scores 92.6 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Unemployment Rate, Poverty Rate, Income vs. State Median.

  • How does Marion County compare to neighboring counties?

    Marion County (68.7) can be compared to its 5 neighboring counties: Caddo Parish, LA (82.7); Morris County, TX (70.2); Cass County, TX (67.0).

  • 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). Marion County's score of 68.7 sits in the Serious zone (71–86).

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

    Marion 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 Marion County?

    Marion County, Texas has a population of approximately 9,571 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a tiny county.