Waller County, Texas

County Distress Index: Elevated · 60.8 | 63,553 people · 132nd most distressed in Texas
American Default Research

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Waller County, TX registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 60.8 — 899th 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 132nd 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. Waller County's primary driver is Consumer Credit Distress at 75.2 — worse than roughly 75% of U.S. counties.

Consumer Credit Distress Primary driver 75.2
Debt in Collections 73
Medical Debt 70
Auto Loan Delinquency 56
Credit Card Delinquency 82
Uninsured Rate 97
Subprime Credit Population 83
Economic Vitality 66.6
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 83
Rent-to-Income Ratio 77
Business Formation Rate 21
House Price Change (YoY) 42
Housing Cost Burden 56.0
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 54
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 45
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 83
Homeownership Rate 69
Structural Poverty 32.2
Unemployment Rate 80
Poverty Rate 53
Income vs. State Median 12
Child Poverty Rate 53
Disability Rate 9
Transfer Income Dependency 13
Legal Distress 28.2
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 28

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Waller County
Waller County, TX 60.8 Elevated —
Harris County, TX 70.6 Serious +9.8
Grimes County, TX 60.7 Elevated -0.1
Austin County, TX 60.3 Elevated -0.5
Montgomery County, TX 56.3 Elevated -4.5
Fort Bend County, TX 54.3 Elevated -6.5
Washington County, TX 52.0 Elevated -8.8

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Waller County
Monroe County, FL 60.8 Elevated 0.0
Kankakee County, IL 60.8 Elevated -0.0
Burke County, NC 60.7 Elevated -0.1
Granville County, NC 60.9 Elevated +0.1
Creek County, OK 60.9 Elevated +0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Waller 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 Waller 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 Waller County, Texas?

    Waller County has a County Distress Index score of 60.8 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 899th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 132nd in Texas out of 254 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Waller County?

    The primary driver of distress in Waller County is Consumer Credit Distress, where the county scores 75.2 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Debt in Collections, Medical Debt, Auto Loan Delinquency.

  • How does Waller County compare to neighboring counties?

    Waller County (60.8) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Harris County, TX (70.6); Grimes County, TX (60.7); Austin County, TX (60.3).

  • 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). Waller County's score of 60.8 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Waller 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 Waller County?

    Waller County, Texas has a population of approximately 63,553 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.