Wilbarger County, Texas

County Distress Index: Serious · 66.7 | 12,522 people · 83rd most distressed in Texas
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Wilbarger County, TX shows significant household financial distress with a score of 66.7 — 569th 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 83rd of 254 counties. Among its 7 neighboring counties, 4 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Wilbarger County's primary driver is Consumer Credit Distress at 77.7 — worse than roughly 78% of U.S. counties.

Consumer Credit Distress Primary driver 77.7
Debt in Collections 95
Medical Debt 95
Auto Loan Delinquency 51
Credit Card Delinquency 69
Uninsured Rate 69
Subprime Credit Population 82
Structural Poverty 65.1
Unemployment Rate 30
Poverty Rate 72
Income vs. State Median 78
Child Poverty Rate 80
Disability Rate 90
Transfer Income Dependency 42
Economic Vitality 63.4
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 53
Rent-to-Income Ratio 61
Business Formation Rate 79
House Price Change (YoY) 95
Legal Distress 60.3
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 60
Housing Cost Burden 47.8
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 34
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 51
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 24
Homeownership Rate 89

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Wilbarger County
Wilbarger County, TX 66.7 Serious —
Wichita County, TX 72.2 Serious +5.5
Hardeman County, TX 69.9 Serious +3.2
Tillman County, OK 69.8 Serious +3.1
Foard County, TX 69.5 Serious +2.8
Baylor County, TX 64.1 Elevated -2.6
Jackson County, OK 57.9 Elevated -8.8
Archer County, TX 37.6 Normal -29.1

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Wilbarger County
Prince Edward County, VA 66.7 Serious -0.0
Westmoreland County, VA 66.7 Serious -0.0
Calhoun County, SC 66.8 Serious +0.1
Scott County, MS 66.6 Serious -0.1
Ouachita County, AR 66.8 Serious +0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Wilbarger 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 Wilbarger 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 Wilbarger County, Texas?

    Wilbarger County has a County Distress Index score of 66.7 out of 100, placing it in the Serious zone. It ranks 569th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 83rd in Texas out of 254 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Wilbarger County?

    The primary driver of distress in Wilbarger County is Consumer Credit Distress, where the county scores 77.7 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Debt in Collections, Medical Debt, Auto Loan Delinquency.

  • How does Wilbarger County compare to neighboring counties?

    Wilbarger County (66.7) can be compared to its 7 neighboring counties: Wichita County, TX (72.2); Hardeman County, TX (69.9); Tillman County, OK (69.8).

  • 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). Wilbarger County's score of 66.7 sits in the Serious zone (71–86).

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

    Wilbarger 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 Wilbarger County?

    Wilbarger County, Texas has a population of approximately 12,522 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.