Rusk County, Texas

County Distress Index: Serious · 65.3 | 53,079 people · 91st most distressed in Texas
American Default Research

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Rusk County, TX shows significant household financial distress with a score of 65.2 — 631st 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 91st 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. Rusk County's primary driver is Consumer Credit Distress at 83.0 — worse than roughly 83% of U.S. counties.

Consumer Credit Distress Primary driver 83.0
Debt in Collections 89
Medical Debt 93
Auto Loan Delinquency 66
Credit Card Delinquency 83
Uninsured Rate 85
Subprime Credit Population 84
Economic Vitality 62.2
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 60
Rent-to-Income Ratio 53
Business Formation Rate 80
House Price Change (YoY) 66
Housing Cost Burden 49.9
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 59
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 60
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 29
Homeownership Rate 19
Structural Poverty 46.2
Unemployment Rate 58
Poverty Rate 56
Income vs. State Median 30
Child Poverty Rate 46
Disability Rate 43
Transfer Income Dependency 51
Legal Distress 36.1
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 36

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Rusk County
Rusk County, TX 65.3 Serious —
Nacogdoches County, TX 77.0 Serious +11.8
Gregg County, TX 74.0 Serious +8.8
Harrison County, TX 65.9 Serious +0.6
Smith County, TX 64.9 Elevated -0.4
Shelby County, TX 62.8 Elevated -2.5
Cherokee County, TX 62.8 Elevated -2.5
Panola County, TX 59.8 Elevated -5.5

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Rusk County
Houston County, AL 65.3 Serious +0.0
Brazos County, TX 65.3 Serious +0.0
Lynchburg city, VA 65.2 Serious -0.1
Navajo County, AZ 65.2 Serious -0.1
Madison County, IN 65.3 Serious +0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Rusk 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 Rusk 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 Rusk County, Texas?

    Rusk County has a County Distress Index score of 65.3 out of 100, placing it in the Serious zone. It ranks 631st nationally out of 3,144 counties and 91st in Texas out of 254 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Rusk County?

    The primary driver of distress in Rusk County is Consumer Credit Distress, where the county scores 83.0 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Debt in Collections, Medical Debt, Auto Loan Delinquency.

  • How does Rusk County compare to neighboring counties?

    Rusk County (65.3) can be compared to its 7 neighboring counties: Nacogdoches County, TX (77.0); Gregg County, TX (74.0); Harrison County, TX (65.9).

  • 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 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). Rusk County's score of 65.3 sits in the Serious zone (71–86).

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

    Rusk 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 Rusk County?

    Rusk County, Texas has a population of approximately 53,079 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.