Wichita County, Texas

County Distress Index: Serious · 72.2 | 130,180 people · 44th most distressed in Texas
American Default Research

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Wichita County, TX shows significant household financial distress with a score of 72.2 — 304th 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 44th of 254 counties. It scores higher than all 6 of its neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Wichita County's primary driver is Consumer Credit Distress at 84.7 — worse than roughly 85% of U.S. counties.

Consumer Credit Distress Primary driver 84.7
Debt in Collections 94
Medical Debt 97
Auto Loan Delinquency 77
Credit Card Delinquency 76
Uninsured Rate 89
Subprime Credit Population 79
Legal Distress 75.9
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 76
Housing Cost Burden 60.5
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 60
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 44
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 73
Homeownership Rate 91
Economic Vitality 59.2
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 60
Rent-to-Income Ratio 59
Business Formation Rate 65
House Price Change (YoY) 46
Structural Poverty 54.4
Unemployment Rate 41
Poverty Rate 76
Income vs. State Median 45
Child Poverty Rate 76
Disability Rate 46
Transfer Income Dependency 49

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Wichita County
Wichita County, TX 72.2 Serious —
Tillman County, OK 69.8 Serious -2.4
Wilbarger County, TX 66.7 Serious -5.5
Cotton County, OK 64.7 Elevated -7.4
Baylor County, TX 64.1 Elevated -8.1
Clay County, TX 50.9 Elevated -21.3
Archer County, TX 37.6 Normal -34.6

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Wichita County
Ector County, TX 72.3 Serious +0.1
Ashtabula County, OH 72.3 Serious +0.1
Walker County, TX 72.1 Serious -0.1
Tuscaloosa County, AL 72.1 Serious -0.1
Highlands County, FL 72.1 Serious -0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Wichita 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 Wichita 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 Wichita County, Texas?

    Wichita County has a County Distress Index score of 72.2 out of 100, placing it in the Serious zone. It ranks 304th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 44th in Texas out of 254 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Wichita County?

    The primary driver of distress in Wichita County is Consumer Credit Distress, where the county scores 84.7 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Debt in Collections, Medical Debt, Auto Loan Delinquency.

  • How does Wichita County compare to neighboring counties?

    Wichita County (72.2) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Tillman County, OK (69.8); Wilbarger County, TX (66.7); Cotton County, OK (64.7).

  • 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 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). Wichita County's score of 72.2 sits in the Serious zone (71–86).

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

    Wichita 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 Wichita County?

    Wichita County, Texas has a population of approximately 130,180 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.