Wheeler County, Texas

County Distress Index: Elevated · 54.9 | 4,804 people · 166th most distressed in Texas
American Default Research

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

Wheeler County, TX registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 54.9 — 1275th 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 166th of 254 counties. Among its 7 neighboring counties, 4 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Wheeler County's primary driver is Consumer Credit Distress at 67.5 — above the national median.

Consumer Credit Distress Primary driver 67.5
Debt in Collections 70
Medical Debt 85
Auto Loan Delinquency 65
Credit Card Delinquency 51
Uninsured Rate 95
Subprime Credit Population 58
Economic Vitality 63.9
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 63
Rent-to-Income Ratio 59
Business Formation Rate 70
House Price Change (YoY) 70
Structural Poverty 62.5
Unemployment Rate 19
Poverty Rate 56
Income vs. State Median 72
Child Poverty Rate 65
Disability Rate 61
Transfer Income Dependency 82
Housing Cost Burden 32.8
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 68
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 5
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 18
Homeownership Rate 26
Legal Distress 15.9
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 16

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Wheeler County
Wheeler County, TX 54.9 Elevated —
Gray County, TX 63.2 Elevated +8.3
Beckham County, OK 61.0 Elevated +6.1
Donley County, TX 59.6 Elevated +4.7
Collingsworth County, TX 53.4 Elevated -1.5
Hemphill County, TX 47.5 Normal -7.4
Roberts County, TX 47.3 Normal -7.7
Roger Mills County, OK 37.1 Normal -17.8

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Wheeler County
Perry County, TN 54.8 Elevated -0.1
Clay County, TN 54.8 Elevated -0.1
Calhoun County, WV 54.8 Elevated -0.1
Kinney County, TX 55.1 Elevated +0.2
Nowata County, OK 54.7 Elevated -0.3

Download Data

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

Find Help in Wheeler 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 Wheeler 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 Wheeler County, Texas?

    Wheeler County has a County Distress Index score of 54.9 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 1,275th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 166th in Texas out of 254 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Wheeler County?

    The primary driver of distress in Wheeler County is Consumer Credit Distress, where the county scores 67.5 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Debt in Collections, Medical Debt, Auto Loan Delinquency.

  • How does Wheeler County compare to neighboring counties?

    Wheeler County (54.9) can be compared to its 7 neighboring counties: Gray County, TX (63.2); Beckham County, OK (61.0); Donley County, TX (59.6).

  • 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 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). Wheeler County's score of 54.9 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Wheeler 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 Wheeler County?

    Wheeler County, Texas has a population of approximately 4,804 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a tiny county.