Parker County, Texas

County Distress Index: Elevated · 55.0 | 173,494 people · 165th most distressed in Texas
American Default Research

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Parker County, TX registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 55.0 — 1271st nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Economic Vitality, where wages are low relative to housing costs, business formation lags, and the local economy lacks dynamism. Within Texas, it ranks 165th 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. Parker County's primary driver is Economic Vitality at 66.9 — above the national median.

Economic Vitality Primary driver 66.9
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 93
Rent-to-Income Ratio 50
Business Formation Rate 15
House Price Change (YoY) 86
Housing Cost Burden 66.6
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 79
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 72
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 90
Homeownership Rate 10
Consumer Credit Distress 59.6
Debt in Collections 61
Medical Debt 89
Auto Loan Delinquency 46
Credit Card Delinquency 43
Uninsured Rate 81
Subprime Credit Population 56
Legal Distress 56.5
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 57
Structural Poverty 11.0
Unemployment Rate 27
Poverty Rate 8
Income vs. State Median 1
Child Poverty Rate 8
Disability Rate 25
Transfer Income Dependency 6

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Parker County
Parker County, TX 55.0 Elevated —
Tarrant County, TX 72.6 Serious +17.6
Palo Pinto County, TX 72.2 Serious +17.2
Johnson County, TX 69.9 Serious +14.9
Jack County, TX 59.7 Elevated +4.7
Hood County, TX 58.4 Elevated +3.4
Wise County, TX 54.0 Elevated -1.0

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Parker County
Androscoggin County, ME 55.0 Elevated +0.0
Tuolumne County, CA 54.9 Elevated -0.0
Sevier County, TN 55.0 Elevated +0.1
Jackson County, AL 55.1 Elevated +0.1
Pickaway County, OH 55.2 Elevated +0.2

Download Data

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

Find Help in Parker 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 Parker 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 Parker County, Texas?

    Parker County has a County Distress Index score of 55.0 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 1,271st nationally out of 3,144 counties and 165th in Texas out of 254 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Parker County?

    The primary driver of distress in Parker County is Economic Vitality, where the county scores 66.9 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Wage-to-Rent Ratio, Rent-to-Income Ratio, Business Formation Rate.

  • How does Parker County compare to neighboring counties?

    Parker County (55.0) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Tarrant County, TX (72.6); Palo Pinto County, TX (72.2); Johnson County, TX (69.9).

  • 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). Parker County's score of 55.0 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Parker 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 Parker County?

    Parker County, Texas has a population of approximately 173,494 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.