Matagorda County, Texas

County Distress Index: Serious · 71.0 | 36,359 people · 49th most distressed in Texas
American Default Research

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Matagorda County, TX shows significant household financial distress with a score of 71.0 — 348th 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 49th of 254 counties. It scores higher than all 4 of its neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Matagorda County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 85.3 — worse than roughly 85% of U.S. counties.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 85.3
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 90
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 96
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 47
Homeownership Rate 75
Consumer Credit Distress 80.3
Debt in Collections 90
Medical Debt 65
Auto Loan Delinquency 60
Credit Card Delinquency 83
Uninsured Rate 94
Subprime Credit Population 89
Structural Poverty 68.7
Unemployment Rate 89
Poverty Rate 78
Income vs. State Median 57
Child Poverty Rate 83
Disability Rate 61
Transfer Income Dependency 59
Economic Vitality 42.1
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 10
Rent-to-Income Ratio 73
Business Formation Rate 60
House Price Change (YoY) 78
Legal Distress 8.6
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 9

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Matagorda County
Matagorda County, TX 71.0 Serious —
Wharton County, TX 64.7 Elevated -6.4
Jackson County, TX 62.0 Elevated -9.0
Brazoria County, TX 58.4 Elevated -12.7
Calhoun County, TX 56.0 Elevated -15.0

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Matagorda County
Coffee County, GA 71.1 Serious +0.0
Frio County, TX 71.1 Serious +0.1
Magoffin County, KY 71.1 Serious +0.1
Choctaw County, OK 71.3 Serious +0.3
Screven County, GA 70.8 Serious -0.3

Download Data

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

Find Help in Matagorda 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 Matagorda 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 Matagorda County, Texas?

    Matagorda County has a County Distress Index score of 71.0 out of 100, placing it in the Serious zone. It ranks 348th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 49th in Texas out of 254 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Matagorda County?

    The primary driver of distress in Matagorda County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 85.3 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Matagorda County compare to neighboring counties?

    Matagorda County (71.0) can be compared to its 4 neighboring counties: Wharton County, TX (64.7); Jackson County, TX (62.0); Brazoria County, TX (58.4).

  • 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 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). Matagorda County's score of 71.0 sits in the Serious zone (71–86).

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

    Matagorda 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 Matagorda County?

    Matagorda County, Texas has a population of approximately 36,359 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.