Sherman County, Texas

County Distress Index: Normal · 39.0 | 2,678 people · 247th most distressed in Texas
American Default Research

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Sherman County, TX falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 39.0 — 2258th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Legal Distress, where bankruptcy filings are moderately elevated. Within Texas, it ranks 247th of 254 counties. Among its 7 neighboring counties, 6 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Sherman County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 59.6 — above the national median.

Legal Distress Primary driver 59.6
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 60
Consumer Credit Distress 53.5
Debt in Collections 34
Medical Debt 75
Auto Loan Delinquency 62
Credit Card Delinquency 73
Uninsured Rate 89
Subprime Credit Population 24
Structural Poverty 34.8
Unemployment Rate 10
Poverty Rate 44
Income vs. State Median 29
Child Poverty Rate 48
Disability Rate 86
Transfer Income Dependency 5
Economic Vitality 18.9
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 17
Rent-to-Income Ratio 16
Business Formation Rate 35
House Price Change (YoY) 5
Housing Cost Burden 12.0
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 5
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 5
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 5
Homeownership Rate 50

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Sherman County
Sherman County, TX 39.0 Normal —
Hutchinson County, TX 57.6 Elevated +18.6
Moore County, TX 55.6 Elevated +16.6
Hansford County, TX 52.3 Elevated +13.3
Dallam County, TX 51.3 Elevated +12.3
Texas County, OK 45.0 Normal +6.0
Cimarron County, OK 39.2 Normal +0.3
Hartley County, TX 35.1 Normal -3.9

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Sherman County
Harper County, KS 39.0 Normal -0.0
Maries County, MO 38.9 Normal -0.0
Benson County, ND 39.0 Normal +0.1
Sherman County, OR 39.0 Normal +0.1
Keith County, NE 38.9 Normal -0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Sherman 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 Sherman 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 Sherman County, Texas?

    Sherman County has a County Distress Index score of 39.0 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 2,258th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 247th in Texas out of 254 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Sherman County?

    The primary driver of distress in Sherman County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 59.6 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Sherman County compare to neighboring counties?

    Sherman County (39.0) can be compared to its 7 neighboring counties: Hutchinson County, TX (57.6); Moore County, TX (55.6); Hansford County, TX (52.3).

  • 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 Normal 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). Sherman County's score of 39.0 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Sherman 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 Sherman County?

    Sherman County, Texas has a population of approximately 2,678 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a tiny county.