Newton County, Texas

County Distress Index: Elevated · 61.2 | 12,039 people · 127th most distressed in Texas
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Newton County, TX registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 61.2 — 873rd 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 127th of 254 counties. Among its 7 neighboring counties, 5 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Newton County's primary driver is Consumer Credit Distress at 86.8 — worse than roughly 87% of U.S. counties.

Consumer Credit Distress Primary driver 86.8
Debt in Collections 95
Medical Debt 95
Auto Loan Delinquency 70
Credit Card Delinquency 81
Uninsured Rate 95
Subprime Credit Population 89
Structural Poverty 79.0
Unemployment Rate 93
Poverty Rate 80
Income vs. State Median 84
Child Poverty Rate 84
Disability Rate 49
Transfer Income Dependency 82
Economic Vitality 62.6
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 49
Rent-to-Income Ratio 65
Business Formation Rate 91
House Price Change (YoY) 70
Housing Cost Burden 12.1
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 7
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 12
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 31
Homeownership Rate 12
Legal Distress 9.6
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 10

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Newton County
Newton County, TX 61.2 Elevated —
Calcasieu Parish, LA 72.8 Serious +11.6
Orange County, TX 68.5 Serious +7.3
Vernon Parish, LA 64.9 Elevated +3.7
Sabine Parish, LA 63.9 Elevated +2.8
Jasper County, TX 63.5 Elevated +2.4
Beauregard Parish, LA 56.2 Elevated -5.0
Sabine County, TX 54.5 Elevated -6.7

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Newton County
Tazewell County, VA 61.2 Elevated 0.0
Howell County, MO 61.2 Elevated -0.0
Oglethorpe County, GA 61.1 Elevated -0.0
Randolph County, WV 61.1 Elevated -0.0
Conway County, AR 61.3 Elevated +0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Newton 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 Newton 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 Newton County, Texas?

    Newton County has a County Distress Index score of 61.2 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 873rd nationally out of 3,144 counties and 127th in Texas out of 254 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Newton County?

    The primary driver of distress in Newton County is Consumer Credit Distress, where the county scores 86.8 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Debt in Collections, Medical Debt, Auto Loan Delinquency.

  • How does Newton County compare to neighboring counties?

    Newton County (61.2) can be compared to its 7 neighboring counties: Calcasieu Parish, LA (72.8); Orange County, TX (68.5); Vernon Parish, LA (64.9).

  • 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). Newton County's score of 61.2 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Newton 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 Newton County?

    Newton County, Texas has a population of approximately 12,039 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.