Sterling County, Texas

County Distress Index: Elevated · 52.0 | 1,397 people · 188th most distressed in Texas
American Default Research

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Sterling County, TX registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 52.0 — 1459th 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 188th 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. Sterling County's primary driver is Consumer Credit Distress at 69.5 — above the national median.

Consumer Credit Distress Primary driver 69.5
Debt in Collections 55
Medical Debt 33
Auto Loan Delinquency 74
Credit Card Delinquency 73
Uninsured Rate 95
Subprime Credit Population 91
Housing Cost Burden 50.5
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 87
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 41
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 23
Homeownership Rate 6
Economic Vitality 35.9
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 25
Rent-to-Income Ratio 10
Business Formation Rate 88
House Price Change (YoY) 70
Legal Distress 24.8
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 25
Structural Poverty 18.9
Unemployment Rate 34
Poverty Rate 33
Income vs. State Median 9
Child Poverty Rate 33
Disability Rate 6
Transfer Income Dependency 10

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Sterling County
Sterling County, TX 52.0 Elevated —
Tom Green County, TX 69.2 Serious +17.2
Howard County, TX 65.5 Serious +13.6
Mitchell County, TX 62.3 Elevated +10.4
Reagan County, TX 54.4 Elevated +2.4
Coke County, TX 44.7 Normal -7.3
Glasscock County, TX 43.4 Normal -8.6

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Sterling County
Van Buren County, TN 51.8 Elevated -0.2
De Baca County, NM 51.7 Elevated -0.2
Kent County, TX 51.6 Elevated -0.3
Knox County, TX 51.6 Elevated -0.3
Carlisle County, KY 52.3 Elevated +0.3

Download Data

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

Find Help in Sterling 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 Sterling 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 Sterling County, Texas?

    Sterling County has a County Distress Index score of 52.0 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 1,459th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 188th in Texas out of 254 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Sterling County?

    The primary driver of distress in Sterling County is Consumer Credit Distress, where the county scores 69.5 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Debt in Collections, Medical Debt, Auto Loan Delinquency.

  • How does Sterling County compare to neighboring counties?

    Sterling County (52.0) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Tom Green County, TX (69.2); Howard County, TX (65.5); Mitchell County, TX (62.3).

  • 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 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). Sterling County's score of 52.0 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Sterling 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 Sterling County?

    Sterling County, Texas has a population of approximately 1,397 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a tiny county.