Walker County, Texas

County Distress Index: Serious · 72.1 | 81,268 people · 45th most distressed in Texas
American Default Research

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Walker County, TX shows significant household financial distress with a score of 72.1 — 312th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Housing Cost Burden, where a large share of households spend more than 30% of income on housing. Within Texas, it ranks 45th of 254 counties. Among its 6 neighboring counties, 5 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Walker County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 92.9 — worse than roughly 93% of U.S. counties.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 92.9
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 99
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 97
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 55
Homeownership Rate 95
Consumer Credit Distress 75.4
Debt in Collections 83
Medical Debt 81
Auto Loan Delinquency 63
Credit Card Delinquency 59
Uninsured Rate 88
Subprime Credit Population 83
Economic Vitality 69.7
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 69
Rent-to-Income Ratio 82
Business Formation Rate 80
House Price Change (YoY) 14
Structural Poverty 58.2
Unemployment Rate 52
Poverty Rate 91
Income vs. State Median 65
Child Poverty Rate 72
Disability Rate 19
Transfer Income Dependency 50
Legal Distress 16.3
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 16

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Walker County
Walker County, TX 72.1 Serious —
Trinity County, TX 74.0 Serious +1.9
Madison County, TX 69.0 Serious -3.0
Houston County, TX 67.6 Serious -4.4
San Jacinto County, TX 64.5 Elevated -7.5
Grimes County, TX 60.7 Elevated -11.4
Montgomery County, TX 56.3 Elevated -15.8

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Walker County
Tuscaloosa County, AL 72.1 Serious -0.0
Highlands County, FL 72.1 Serious -0.0
Wichita County, TX 72.2 Serious +0.1
Comanche County, OK 71.9 Serious -0.2
Ector County, TX 72.3 Serious +0.2

Download Data

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

Find Help in Walker 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 Walker 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 Walker County, Texas?

    Walker County has a County Distress Index score of 72.1 out of 100, placing it in the Serious zone. It ranks 312th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 45th in Texas out of 254 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Walker County?

    The primary driver of distress in Walker County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 92.9 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Walker County compare to neighboring counties?

    Walker County (72.1) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Trinity County, TX (74.0); Madison County, TX (69.0); Houston County, TX (67.6).

  • 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 Serious 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). Walker County's score of 72.1 sits in the Serious zone (71–86).

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

    Walker 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 Walker County?

    Walker County, Texas has a population of approximately 81,268 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.