Sutton County, Texas

County Distress Index: Normal · 46.1 | 3,221 people · 228th most distressed in Texas
American Default Research

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Sutton County, TX falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 46.1 — 1836th 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 228th of 254 counties. Among its 6 neighboring counties, 5 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Sutton County's primary driver is Consumer Credit Distress at 67.0 — above the national median.

Consumer Credit Distress Primary driver 67.0
Debt in Collections 65
Medical Debt 41
Auto Loan Delinquency 74
Credit Card Delinquency 67
Uninsured Rate 94
Subprime Credit Population 70
Structural Poverty 42.0
Unemployment Rate 82
Poverty Rate 48
Income vs. State Median 36
Child Poverty Rate 55
Disability Rate 5
Transfer Income Dependency 37
Economic Vitality 31.1
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 5
Rent-to-Income Ratio 22
Business Formation Rate 95
House Price Change (YoY) 70
Legal Distress 24.8
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 25
Housing Cost Burden 17.0
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 5
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 5
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 7
Homeownership Rate 80

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Sutton County
Sutton County, TX 46.1 Normal —
Val Verde County, TX 64.9 Elevated +18.8
Edwards County, TX 61.5 Elevated +15.5
Menard County, TX 61.4 Elevated +15.4
Schleicher County, TX 50.8 Elevated +4.7
Kimble County, TX 46.4 Normal +0.4
Crockett County, TX 45.2 Normal -0.9

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Sutton County
Iron County, WI 46.1 Normal +0.0
Comanche County, KS 46.1 Normal +0.0
Buffalo County, SD 46.0 Normal -0.1
Calhoun County, AR 46.0 Normal -0.1
Chautauqua County, KS 46.0 Normal -0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Sutton 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 Sutton 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 Sutton County, Texas?

    Sutton County has a County Distress Index score of 46.1 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 1,836th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 228th in Texas out of 254 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Sutton County?

    The primary driver of distress in Sutton County is Consumer Credit Distress, where the county scores 67.0 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Debt in Collections, Medical Debt, Auto Loan Delinquency.

  • How does Sutton County compare to neighboring counties?

    Sutton County (46.1) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Val Verde County, TX (64.9); Edwards County, TX (61.5); Menard County, TX (61.4).

  • 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). Sutton County's score of 46.1 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Sutton 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 Sutton County?

    Sutton County, Texas has a population of approximately 3,221 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a tiny county.