Upton County, Texas

County Distress Index: Normal · 47.3 | 3,109 people · 219th most distressed in Texas
American Default Research

Behind on your mortgage or facing eviction? Take a 2-minute assessment to see your options.

Upton County, TX falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 47.3 — 1756th 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 219th of 254 counties. Its score is in the middle of its 6 neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Upton County's primary driver is Consumer Credit Distress at 74.0 — above the national median.

Consumer Credit Distress Primary driver 74.0
Debt in Collections 84
Medical Debt 93
Auto Loan Delinquency 74
Credit Card Delinquency 23
Uninsured Rate 88
Subprime Credit Population 87
Structural Poverty 34.8
Unemployment Rate 5
Poverty Rate 63
Income vs. State Median 56
Child Poverty Rate 67
Disability Rate 10
Transfer Income Dependency 7
Economic Vitality 34.0
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 5
Rent-to-Income Ratio 46
Business Formation Rate 72
House Price Change (YoY) 70
Housing Cost Burden 17.4
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 5
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 5
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 61
Homeownership Rate 46
Legal Distress 5.0
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 5

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Upton County
Upton County, TX 47.3 Normal —
Ector County, TX 72.3 Serious +25.0
Midland County, TX 62.9 Elevated +15.6
Reagan County, TX 54.4 Elevated +7.1
Crane County, TX 45.7 Normal -1.6
Crockett County, TX 45.2 Normal -2.1
Glasscock County, TX 43.4 Normal -3.9

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Upton County
Roberts County, TX 47.3 Normal -0.1
Fisher County, TX 47.5 Normal +0.1
Kimball County, NE 47.2 Normal -0.2
Grundy County, MO 47.5 Normal +0.2
Hemphill County, TX 47.5 Normal +0.2

Download Data

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

Find Help in Upton 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 Upton 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 →

Continue Reading

Frequently Asked Questions

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

    Upton County has a County Distress Index score of 47.3 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 1,756th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 219th in Texas out of 254 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Upton County?

    The primary driver of distress in Upton County is Consumer Credit Distress, where the county scores 74.0 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Debt in Collections, Medical Debt, Auto Loan Delinquency.

  • How does Upton County compare to neighboring counties?

    Upton County (47.3) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Ector County, TX (72.3); Midland County, TX (62.9); Reagan County, TX (54.4).

  • 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). Upton County's score of 47.3 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Upton 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 Upton County?

    Upton County, Texas has a population of approximately 3,109 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a tiny county.