Wharton County, Texas

County Distress Index: Elevated · 64.7 | 41,739 people · 96th most distressed in Texas
American Default Research

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Wharton County, TX registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 64.7 — 663rd 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 96th 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. Wharton County's primary driver is Consumer Credit Distress at 78.9 — worse than roughly 79% of U.S. counties.

Consumer Credit Distress Primary driver 78.9
Debt in Collections 90
Medical Debt 92
Auto Loan Delinquency 58
Credit Card Delinquency 64
Uninsured Rate 92
Subprime Credit Population 84
Housing Cost Burden 62.3
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 62
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 69
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 32
Homeownership Rate 68
Economic Vitality 57.3
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 57
Rent-to-Income Ratio 57
Business Formation Rate 67
House Price Change (YoY) 43
Structural Poverty 54.9
Unemployment Rate 67
Poverty Rate 63
Income vs. State Median 49
Child Poverty Rate 66
Disability Rate 43
Transfer Income Dependency 49
Legal Distress 7.1
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 7

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Wharton County
Wharton County, TX 64.7 Elevated —
Matagorda County, TX 71.0 Serious +6.4
Jackson County, TX 62.0 Elevated -2.7
Austin County, TX 60.3 Elevated -4.3
Brazoria County, TX 58.4 Elevated -6.3
Fort Bend County, TX 54.3 Elevated -10.4
Colorado County, TX 49.4 Normal -15.3

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Wharton County
Pierce County, GA 64.7 Elevated 0.0
Morgan County, KY 64.7 Elevated 0.0
Adair County, KY 64.7 Elevated +0.0
Hill County, TX 64.7 Elevated +0.0
Montgomery County, NY 64.6 Elevated -0.0

Download Data

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

Find Help in Wharton 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 Wharton 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 Wharton County, Texas?

    Wharton County has a County Distress Index score of 64.7 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 663rd nationally out of 3,144 counties and 96th in Texas out of 254 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Wharton County?

    The primary driver of distress in Wharton County is Consumer Credit Distress, where the county scores 78.9 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Debt in Collections, Medical Debt, Auto Loan Delinquency.

  • How does Wharton County compare to neighboring counties?

    Wharton County (64.7) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Matagorda County, TX (71.0); Jackson County, TX (62.0); 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). Wharton County's score of 64.7 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Wharton 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 Wharton County?

    Wharton County, Texas has a population of approximately 41,739 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.