Mason County, Texas

County Distress Index: Normal · 40.1 | 3,931 people · 245th most distressed in Texas
American Default Research

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Mason County, TX falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 40.1 — 2189th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Structural Poverty, where income and poverty levels indicate moderate economic strain. Within Texas, it ranks 245th 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. Mason County's primary driver is Structural Poverty at 52.5 — above the national median.

Structural Poverty Primary driver 52.5
Unemployment Rate 38
Poverty Rate 41
Income vs. State Median 42
Child Poverty Rate 64
Disability Rate 73
Transfer Income Dependency 58
Economic Vitality 48.6
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 64
Rent-to-Income Ratio 36
Business Formation Rate 18
House Price Change (YoY) 70
Consumer Credit Distress 45.2
Debt in Collections 16
Medical Debt 80
Auto Loan Delinquency 74
Credit Card Delinquency 7
Uninsured Rate 86
Subprime Credit Population 45
Legal Distress 37.0
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 37
Housing Cost Burden 18.9
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 5
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 5
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 79
Homeownership Rate 42

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Mason County
Mason County, TX 40.1 Normal —
McCulloch County, TX 68.7 Serious +28.6
Menard County, TX 61.4 Elevated +21.4
San Saba County, TX 50.4 Elevated +10.3
Kimble County, TX 46.4 Normal +6.4
Llano County, TX 44.8 Normal +4.7
Gillespie County, TX 35.6 Normal -4.5

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Mason County
Ballard County, KY 40.1 Normal +0.0
Wilson County, KS 40.0 Normal -0.1
Cameron Parish, LA 40.2 Normal +0.1
Furnas County, NE 40.2 Normal +0.1
Monroe County, MO 40.3 Normal +0.2

Download Data

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

Find Help in Mason 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 Mason 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.

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the distress score for Mason County, Texas?

    Mason County has a County Distress Index score of 40.1 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 2,189th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 245th in Texas out of 254 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Mason County?

    The primary driver of distress in Mason County is Structural Poverty, where the county scores 52.5 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Unemployment Rate, Poverty Rate, Income vs. State Median.

  • How does Mason County compare to neighboring counties?

    Mason County (40.1) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: McCulloch County, TX (68.7); Menard County, TX (61.4); San Saba County, TX (50.4).

  • 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 Normal 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). Mason County's score of 40.1 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Mason 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 Mason County?

    Mason County, Texas has a population of approximately 3,931 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a tiny county.