Terrell County, Texas

County Distress Index: Elevated · 52.3 | 687 people · 184th most distressed in Texas
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Terrell County, TX registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 52.3 — 1431st nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Legal Distress, where bankruptcy filing rates are well above the national average. Within Texas, it ranks 184th of 254 counties. Its score is in the middle of its 4 neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Terrell County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 90.0 — worse than roughly 90% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 90.0
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 90
Structural Poverty 69.3
Unemployment Rate 30
Poverty Rate 80
Income vs. State Median 92
Child Poverty Rate 67
Disability Rate 91
Transfer Income Dependency 49
Consumer Credit Distress 67.5
Debt in Collections 86
Medical Debt 87
Auto Loan Delinquency 74
Credit Card Delinquency 73
Uninsured Rate 68
Subprime Credit Population 26
Economic Vitality 33.3
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 8
Rent-to-Income Ratio 82
Business Formation Rate 5
House Price Change (YoY) 70
Housing Cost Burden 5.0
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 5
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 5
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 5
Homeownership Rate 5

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Terrell County
Terrell County, TX 52.3 Elevated —
Val Verde County, TX 64.9 Elevated +12.6
Pecos County, TX 60.6 Elevated +8.3
Crockett County, TX 45.2 Normal -7.1
Brewster County, TX 44.8 Normal -7.5

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Terrell County
Hansford County, TX 52.3 Elevated -0.0
Carlisle County, KY 52.3 Elevated -0.0
Sterling County, TX 52.0 Elevated -0.4
Pershing County, NV 52.8 Elevated +0.4
Van Buren County, TN 51.8 Elevated -0.5

Download Data

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

Find Help in Terrell 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 Terrell 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.

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the distress score for Terrell County, Texas?

    Terrell County has a County Distress Index score of 52.3 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 1,431st nationally out of 3,144 counties and 184th in Texas out of 254 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Terrell County?

    The primary driver of distress in Terrell County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 90.0 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Terrell County compare to neighboring counties?

    Terrell County (52.3) can be compared to its 4 neighboring counties: Val Verde County, TX (64.9); Pecos County, TX (60.6); Crockett County, TX (45.2).

  • 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). Terrell County's score of 52.3 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Terrell 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 Terrell County?

    Terrell County, Texas has a population of approximately 687 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a tiny county.