Wilson County, Texas

County Distress Index: Elevated · 51.2 | 54,183 people · 193rd most distressed in Texas
American Default Research

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Wilson County, TX registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 51.2 — 1507th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Consumer Credit Distress, where debt and delinquency levels sit above the national average. Within Texas, it ranks 193rd of 254 counties. It scores lower than all 5 of its neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Wilson County's primary driver is Consumer Credit Distress at 64.8 — above the national median.

Consumer Credit Distress Primary driver 64.8
Debt in Collections 69
Medical Debt 89
Auto Loan Delinquency 66
Credit Card Delinquency 45
Uninsured Rate 73
Subprime Credit Population 57
Economic Vitality 59.7
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 88
Rent-to-Income Ratio 40
Business Formation Rate 36
House Price Change (YoY) 20
Housing Cost Burden 41.8
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 38
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 52
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 76
Homeownership Rate 3
Legal Distress 32.3
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 32
Structural Poverty 23.8
Unemployment Rate 41
Poverty Rate 20
Income vs. State Median 6
Child Poverty Rate 29
Disability Rate 31
Transfer Income Dependency 25

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Wilson County
Wilson County, TX 51.2 Elevated —
Bexar County, TX 73.2 Serious +22.0
Karnes County, TX 69.2 Serious +17.9
Atascosa County, TX 68.4 Serious +17.1
Gonzales County, TX 59.4 Elevated +8.2
Guadalupe County, TX 52.9 Elevated +1.7

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Wilson County
Schuylkill County, PA 51.2 Elevated -0.0
Lawrence County, PA 51.1 Elevated -0.1
Reno County, KS 51.3 Elevated +0.1
Broome County, NY 51.1 Elevated -0.1
Washington County, NY 51.3 Elevated +0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Wilson 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 Wilson 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 Wilson County, Texas?

    Wilson County has a County Distress Index score of 51.2 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 1,507th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 193rd in Texas out of 254 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Wilson County?

    The primary driver of distress in Wilson County is Consumer Credit Distress, where the county scores 64.8 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Debt in Collections, Medical Debt, Auto Loan Delinquency.

  • How does Wilson County compare to neighboring counties?

    Wilson County (51.2) can be compared to its 5 neighboring counties: Bexar County, TX (73.2); Karnes County, TX (69.2); Atascosa County, TX (68.4).

  • 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). Wilson County's score of 51.2 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Wilson 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 Wilson County?

    Wilson County, Texas has a population of approximately 54,183 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.