Rockwall County, Texas

County Distress Index: Elevated · 53.3 | 131,307 people · 179th most distressed in Texas
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Rockwall County, TX registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 53.3 — 1379th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Legal Distress, where bankruptcy filing rates are well above the national average. Within Texas, it ranks 179th of 254 counties. Among its 4 neighboring counties, 3 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Rockwall County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 77.3 — worse than roughly 77% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 77.3
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 77
Housing Cost Burden 68.9
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 81
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 74
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 99
Homeownership Rate 8
Economic Vitality 63.5
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 97
Rent-to-Income Ratio 35
Business Formation Rate 8
House Price Change (YoY) 90
Consumer Credit Distress 53.8
Debt in Collections 49
Medical Debt 78
Auto Loan Delinquency 45
Credit Card Delinquency 44
Uninsured Rate 59
Subprime Credit Population 56
Structural Poverty 6.2
Unemployment Rate 38
Poverty Rate 1
Income vs. State Median 1
Child Poverty Rate 1
Disability Rate 1
Transfer Income Dependency 3

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Rockwall County
Rockwall County, TX 53.3 Elevated —
Kaufman County, TX 73.8 Serious +20.4
Dallas County, TX 73.7 Serious +20.4
Hunt County, TX 73.6 Serious +20.3
Collin County, TX 48.5 Normal -4.8

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Rockwall County
Hall County, NE 53.3 Elevated -0.0
Humboldt County, CA 53.3 Elevated -0.1
Morgan County, IN 53.4 Elevated +0.1
Davidson County, NC 53.5 Elevated +0.1
Umatilla County, OR 53.5 Elevated +0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Rockwall 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 Rockwall 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 Rockwall County, Texas?

    Rockwall County has a County Distress Index score of 53.3 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 1,379th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 179th in Texas out of 254 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Rockwall County?

    The primary driver of distress in Rockwall County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 77.3 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Rockwall County compare to neighboring counties?

    Rockwall County (53.3) can be compared to its 4 neighboring counties: Kaufman County, TX (73.8); Dallas County, TX (73.7); Hunt County, TX (73.6).

  • 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). Rockwall County's score of 53.3 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Rockwall 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 Rockwall County?

    Rockwall County, Texas has a population of approximately 131,307 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.