Pecos County, Texas

County Distress Index: Elevated · 60.6 | 14,623 people · 134th most distressed in Texas
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Pecos County, TX registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 60.6 — 913th 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 134th of 254 counties. Among its 7 neighboring counties, 4 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Pecos County's primary driver is Consumer Credit Distress at 93.3 — worse than roughly 93% of U.S. counties.

Consumer Credit Distress Primary driver 93.3
Debt in Collections 95
Medical Debt 95
Auto Loan Delinquency 94
Credit Card Delinquency 95
Uninsured Rate 87
Subprime Credit Population 91
Structural Poverty 53.0
Unemployment Rate 55
Poverty Rate 89
Income vs. State Median 60
Child Poverty Rate 77
Disability Rate 5
Transfer Income Dependency 38
Economic Vitality 30.7
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 5
Rent-to-Income Ratio 40
Business Formation Rate 52
House Price Change (YoY) 94
Housing Cost Burden 26.4
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 24
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 21
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 5
Homeownership Rate 58
Legal Distress 5.0
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 5

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Pecos County
Pecos County, TX 60.6 Elevated —
Jeff Davis County, TX 64.1 Elevated +3.5
Ward County, TX 62.0 Elevated +1.4
Reeves County, TX 61.4 Elevated +0.8
Terrell County, TX 52.3 Elevated -8.3
Crane County, TX 45.7 Normal -14.9
Crockett County, TX 45.2 Normal -15.5
Brewster County, TX 44.8 Normal -15.8

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Pecos County
Cooke County, TX 60.6 Elevated -0.0
Russell County, KY 60.7 Elevated +0.0
Grimes County, TX 60.7 Elevated +0.0
McDonough County, IL 60.7 Elevated +0.1
Miami County, IN 60.7 Elevated +0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Pecos 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 Pecos 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 Pecos County, Texas?

    Pecos County has a County Distress Index score of 60.6 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 913th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 134th in Texas out of 254 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Pecos County?

    The primary driver of distress in Pecos County is Consumer Credit Distress, where the county scores 93.3 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Debt in Collections, Medical Debt, Auto Loan Delinquency.

  • How does Pecos County compare to neighboring counties?

    Pecos County (60.6) can be compared to its 7 neighboring counties: Jeff Davis County, TX (64.1); Ward County, TX (62.0); Reeves County, TX (61.4).

  • 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). Pecos County's score of 60.6 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Pecos 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 Pecos County?

    Pecos County, Texas has a population of approximately 14,623 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.