Orange County, Texas

County Distress Index: Serious · 68.5 | 85,722 people · 75th most distressed in Texas
American Default Research

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Orange County, TX shows significant household financial distress with a score of 68.5 — 467th 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 75th of 254 counties. Among its 6 neighboring counties, 4 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Orange County's primary driver is Consumer Credit Distress at 80.9 — worse than roughly 81% of U.S. counties.

Consumer Credit Distress Primary driver 80.9
Debt in Collections 90
Medical Debt 88
Auto Loan Delinquency 68
Credit Card Delinquency 71
Uninsured Rate 91
Subprime Credit Population 82
Housing Cost Burden 69.3
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 71
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 88
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 32
Homeownership Rate 47
Legal Distress 60.3
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 60
Structural Poverty 51.1
Unemployment Rate 72
Poverty Rate 58
Income vs. State Median 29
Child Poverty Rate 58
Disability Rate 59
Transfer Income Dependency 47
Economic Vitality 35.0
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 11
Rent-to-Income Ratio 40
Business Formation Rate 70
House Price Change (YoY) 76

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Orange County
Orange County, TX 68.5 Serious —
Jefferson County, TX 73.3 Serious +4.8
Calcasieu Parish, LA 72.8 Serious +4.3
Jasper County, TX 63.5 Elevated -4.9
Newton County, TX 61.2 Elevated -7.3
Hardin County, TX 60.3 Elevated -8.2
Cameron Parish, LA 40.2 Normal -28.3

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Orange County
St. Martin Parish, LA 68.5 Serious 0.0
Scioto County, OH 68.5 Serious 0.0
Walton County, GA 68.5 Serious -0.0
Montgomery County, TN 68.5 Serious +0.0
Atascosa County, TX 68.4 Serious -0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Orange 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 Orange 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 Orange County, Texas?

    Orange County has a County Distress Index score of 68.5 out of 100, placing it in the Serious zone. It ranks 467th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 75th in Texas out of 254 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Orange County?

    The primary driver of distress in Orange County is Consumer Credit Distress, where the county scores 80.9 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Debt in Collections, Medical Debt, Auto Loan Delinquency.

  • How does Orange County compare to neighboring counties?

    Orange County (68.5) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Jefferson County, TX (73.3); Calcasieu Parish, LA (72.8); Jasper County, TX (63.5).

  • 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). Orange County's score of 68.5 sits in the Serious zone (71–86).

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

    Orange 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 Orange County?

    Orange County, Texas has a population of approximately 85,722 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.