Medina County, Texas

County Distress Index: Elevated · 59.4 | 54,797 people · 147th most distressed in Texas
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Medina County, TX registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 59.4 — 996th 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 147th 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. Medina County's primary driver is Consumer Credit Distress at 68.6 — above the national median.

Consumer Credit Distress Primary driver 68.6
Debt in Collections 71
Medical Debt 57
Auto Loan Delinquency 67
Credit Card Delinquency 61
Uninsured Rate 80
Subprime Credit Population 77
Economic Vitality 62.6
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 76
Rent-to-Income Ratio 42
Business Formation Rate 45
House Price Change (YoY) 88
Housing Cost Burden 53.3
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 57
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 63
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 73
Homeownership Rate 8
Structural Poverty 45.7
Unemployment Rate 55
Poverty Rate 47
Income vs. State Median 20
Child Poverty Rate 52
Disability Rate 75
Transfer Income Dependency 41
Legal Distress 39.9
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 40

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Medina County
Medina County, TX 59.4 Elevated —
Bexar County, TX 73.2 Serious +13.8
Frio County, TX 71.1 Serious +11.7
Zavala County, TX 69.7 Serious +10.3
Uvalde County, TX 69.3 Serious +10.0
Atascosa County, TX 68.4 Serious +9.0
Bandera County, TX 46.3 Normal -13.1

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Medina County
Pike County, PA 59.5 Elevated +0.1
Yuma County, AZ 59.1 Elevated -0.3
Clark County, IN 59.1 Elevated -0.3
Lafourche Parish, LA 59.1 Elevated -0.3
Catoosa County, GA 59.1 Elevated -0.3

Download Data

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

Find Help in Medina 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 Medina 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 Medina County, Texas?

    Medina County has a County Distress Index score of 59.4 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 996th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 147th in Texas out of 254 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Medina County?

    The primary driver of distress in Medina County is Consumer Credit Distress, where the county scores 68.6 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Debt in Collections, Medical Debt, Auto Loan Delinquency.

  • How does Medina County compare to neighboring counties?

    Medina County (59.4) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Bexar County, TX (73.2); Frio County, TX (71.1); Zavala County, TX (69.7).

  • 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 Elevated 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). Medina County's score of 59.4 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Medina 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 Medina County?

    Medina County, Texas has a population of approximately 54,797 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.