Palo Pinto County, Texas

County Distress Index: Serious · 72.2 | 29,747 people · 43rd most distressed in Texas
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Palo Pinto County, TX shows significant household financial distress with a score of 72.2 — 303rd 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 43rd of 254 counties. It scores higher than all 7 of its neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Palo Pinto County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 80.5 — worse than roughly 81% of U.S. counties.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 80.5
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 87
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 87
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 46
Homeownership Rate 73
Consumer Credit Distress 80.2
Debt in Collections 89
Medical Debt 91
Auto Loan Delinquency 66
Credit Card Delinquency 62
Uninsured Rate 96
Subprime Credit Population 84
Structural Poverty 62.8
Unemployment Rate 49
Poverty Rate 72
Income vs. State Median 70
Child Poverty Rate 83
Disability Rate 59
Transfer Income Dependency 47
Economic Vitality 58.7
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 60
Rent-to-Income Ratio 68
Business Formation Rate 44
House Price Change (YoY) 56
Legal Distress 29.6
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 30

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Palo Pinto County
Palo Pinto County, TX 72.2 Serious —
Erath County, TX 69.2 Serious -3.0
Stephens County, TX 63.4 Elevated -8.8
Eastland County, TX 59.7 Elevated -12.5
Jack County, TX 59.7 Elevated -12.5
Hood County, TX 58.4 Elevated -13.8
Parker County, TX 55.0 Elevated -17.2
Young County, TX 47.2 Normal -25.0

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Palo Pinto County
McCreary County, KY 72.2 Serious +0.0
Luna County, NM 72.1 Serious -0.0
Hale County, AL 72.1 Serious -0.1
St. Mary Parish, LA 72.1 Serious -0.1
Barbour County, AL 72.1 Serious -0.1

Download Data

Export all distress indicators for Palo Pinto County as a CSV file.

Find Help in Palo Pinto 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 Palo Pinto 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 Palo Pinto County, Texas?

    Palo Pinto County has a County Distress Index score of 72.2 out of 100, placing it in the Serious zone. It ranks 303rd nationally out of 3,144 counties and 43rd in Texas out of 254 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Palo Pinto County?

    The primary driver of distress in Palo Pinto County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 80.5 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Palo Pinto County compare to neighboring counties?

    Palo Pinto County (72.2) can be compared to its 7 neighboring counties: Erath County, TX (69.2); Stephens County, TX (63.4); Eastland County, TX (59.7).

  • 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 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). Palo Pinto County's score of 72.2 sits in the Serious zone (71–86).

  • What data sources power Palo Pinto County's CDI score?

    Palo Pinto 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 Palo Pinto County?

    Palo Pinto County, Texas has a population of approximately 29,747 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.