Washington County, Texas

County Distress Index: Elevated · 52.0 | 37,007 people · 187th most distressed in Texas
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Washington County, TX registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 52.0 — 1451st nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Economic Vitality, where wages are low relative to housing costs, business formation lags, and the local economy lacks dynamism. Within Texas, it ranks 187th of 254 counties. Among its 7 neighboring counties, 5 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Washington County's primary driver is Economic Vitality at 70.8 — above the national median.

Economic Vitality Primary driver 70.8
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 83
Rent-to-Income Ratio 68
Business Formation Rate 42
House Price Change (YoY) 74
Consumer Credit Distress 57.7
Debt in Collections 57
Medical Debt 60
Auto Loan Delinquency 56
Credit Card Delinquency 35
Uninsured Rate 88
Subprime Credit Population 64
Housing Cost Burden 53.6
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 55
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 42
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 83
Homeownership Rate 57
Structural Poverty 39.3
Unemployment Rate 38
Poverty Rate 58
Income vs. State Median 25
Child Poverty Rate 62
Disability Rate 34
Transfer Income Dependency 31
Legal Distress 11.2
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 11

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Washington County
Washington County, TX 52.0 Elevated —
Brazos County, TX 65.3 Serious +13.2
Waller County, TX 60.8 Elevated +8.8
Grimes County, TX 60.7 Elevated +8.6
Austin County, TX 60.3 Elevated +8.3
Lee County, TX 54.9 Elevated +2.8
Burleson County, TX 48.4 Normal -3.7
Fayette County, TX 46.7 Normal -5.3

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Washington County
Rush County, IN 52.0 Elevated 0.0
Boone County, AR 52.1 Elevated +0.0
Breckinridge County, KY 52.0 Elevated -0.0
Clinton County, OH 52.0 Elevated -0.0
Randolph County, IN 52.0 Elevated -0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Washington 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 Washington 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 Washington County, Texas?

    Washington County has a County Distress Index score of 52.0 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 1,451st nationally out of 3,144 counties and 187th in Texas out of 254 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Washington County?

    The primary driver of distress in Washington County is Economic Vitality, where the county scores 70.8 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Wage-to-Rent Ratio, Rent-to-Income Ratio, Business Formation Rate.

  • How does Washington County compare to neighboring counties?

    Washington County (52.0) can be compared to its 7 neighboring counties: Brazos County, TX (65.3); Waller County, TX (60.8); Grimes County, TX (60.7).

  • 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). Washington County's score of 52.0 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Washington 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 Washington County?

    Washington County, Texas has a population of approximately 37,007 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.