Runnels County, Texas

County Distress Index: Elevated · 54.5 | 9,868 people · 168th most distressed in Texas
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Runnels County, TX registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 54.5 — 1307th 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 168th of 254 counties. Among its 6 neighboring counties, 4 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Runnels County's primary driver is Consumer Credit Distress at 69.2 — above the national median.

Consumer Credit Distress Primary driver 69.3
Debt in Collections 87
Medical Debt 83
Auto Loan Delinquency 34
Credit Card Delinquency 47
Uninsured Rate 88
Subprime Credit Population 82
Economic Vitality 59.4
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 53
Rent-to-Income Ratio 48
Business Formation Rate 78
House Price Change (YoY) 95
Structural Poverty 58.0
Unemployment Rate 23
Poverty Rate 63
Income vs. State Median 45
Child Poverty Rate 75
Disability Rate 61
Transfer Income Dependency 75
Legal Distress 52.5
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 52
Housing Cost Burden 19.5
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 7
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 15
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 35
Homeownership Rate 49

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Runnels County
Runnels County, TX 54.5 Elevated —
Taylor County, TX 69.4 Serious +14.9
Tom Green County, TX 69.2 Serious +14.7
Nolan County, TX 68.9 Serious +14.4
Coleman County, TX 57.5 Elevated +3.0
Concho County, TX 47.6 Normal -6.9
Coke County, TX 44.7 Normal -9.8

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Runnels County
Thurston County, NE 54.5 Elevated +0.0
Crowley County, CO 54.5 Elevated -0.0
Richmond County, VA 54.5 Elevated +0.1
Fall River County, SD 54.4 Elevated -0.1
Reagan County, TX 54.4 Elevated -0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Runnels 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 Runnels 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 Runnels County, Texas?

    Runnels County has a County Distress Index score of 54.5 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 1,307th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 168th in Texas out of 254 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Runnels County?

    The primary driver of distress in Runnels County is Consumer Credit Distress, where the county scores 69.2 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Debt in Collections, Medical Debt, Auto Loan Delinquency.

  • How does Runnels County compare to neighboring counties?

    Runnels County (54.5) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Taylor County, TX (69.4); Tom Green County, TX (69.2); Nolan County, TX (68.9).

  • 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). Runnels County's score of 54.5 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Runnels 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 Runnels County?

    Runnels County, Texas has a population of approximately 9,868 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a tiny county.