Stephens County, Texas

County Distress Index: Elevated · 63.4 | 9,343 people · 110th most distressed in Texas
American Default Research

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Stephens County, TX registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 63.4 — 752nd 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 110th of 254 counties. Among its 5 neighboring counties, 4 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Stephens County's primary driver is Consumer Credit Distress at 86.3 — worse than roughly 86% of U.S. counties.

Consumer Credit Distress Primary driver 86.3
Debt in Collections 88
Medical Debt 87
Auto Loan Delinquency 87
Credit Card Delinquency 93
Uninsured Rate 86
Subprime Credit Population 78
Structural Poverty 68.2
Unemployment Rate 55
Poverty Rate 80
Income vs. State Median 56
Child Poverty Rate 83
Disability Rate 74
Transfer Income Dependency 67
Economic Vitality 62.4
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 61
Rent-to-Income Ratio 46
Business Formation Rate 75
House Price Change (YoY) 95
Legal Distress 28.7
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 29
Housing Cost Burden 23.5
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 21
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 27
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 14
Homeownership Rate 26

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Stephens County
Stephens County, TX 63.4 Elevated —
Palo Pinto County, TX 72.2 Serious +8.8
Eastland County, TX 59.7 Elevated -3.7
Throckmorton County, TX 57.9 Elevated -5.5
Shackelford County, TX 48.9 Normal -14.5
Young County, TX 47.2 Normal -16.2

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Stephens County
Cleveland County, AR 63.5 Elevated +0.1
Haskell County, TX 63.5 Elevated +0.1
Franklin County, MS 63.2 Elevated -0.2
Gallatin County, KY 63.6 Elevated +0.2
Lincoln County, GA 63.7 Elevated +0.3

Download Data

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

Find Help in Stephens 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 Stephens 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 Stephens County, Texas?

    Stephens County has a County Distress Index score of 63.4 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 752nd nationally out of 3,144 counties and 110th in Texas out of 254 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Stephens County?

    The primary driver of distress in Stephens County is Consumer Credit Distress, where the county scores 86.3 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Debt in Collections, Medical Debt, Auto Loan Delinquency.

  • How does Stephens County compare to neighboring counties?

    Stephens County (63.4) can be compared to its 5 neighboring counties: Palo Pinto County, TX (72.2); Eastland County, TX (59.7); Throckmorton County, TX (57.9).

  • 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). Stephens County's score of 63.4 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Stephens 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 Stephens County?

    Stephens County, Texas has a population of approximately 9,343 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a tiny county.