Zapata County, Texas

County Distress Index: Serious · 73.3 | 13,736 people · 33rd most distressed in Texas
American Default Research

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Zapata County, TX shows significant household financial distress with a score of 73.3 — 257th 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 33rd of 254 counties. It scores lower than all 3 of its neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Zapata County's primary driver is Consumer Credit Distress at 94.8 — worse than roughly 95% of U.S. counties.

Consumer Credit Distress Primary driver 94.8
Debt in Collections 95
Medical Debt 93
Auto Loan Delinquency 95
Credit Card Delinquency 95
Uninsured Rate 95
Subprime Credit Population 95
Structural Poverty 87.7
Unemployment Rate 94
Poverty Rate 95
Income vs. State Median 95
Child Poverty Rate 95
Disability Rate 49
Transfer Income Dependency 93
Economic Vitality 81.1
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 72
Rent-to-Income Ratio 91
Business Formation Rate 95
House Price Change (YoY) 70
Housing Cost Burden 38.0
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 28
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 48
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 21
Homeownership Rate 49
Legal Distress 5.0
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 5

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Zapata County
Zapata County, TX 73.3 Serious —
Starr County, TX 80.3 Crisis +7.0
Webb County, TX 78.4 Serious +5.1
Jim Hogg County, TX 73.6 Serious +0.3

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Zapata County
Clay County, MS 73.3 Serious -0.0
Hampton County, SC 73.3 Serious +0.0
Long County, GA 73.2 Serious -0.1
Poinsett County, AR 73.2 Serious -0.1
Tate County, MS 73.4 Serious +0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Zapata 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 Zapata 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 Zapata County, Texas?

    Zapata County has a County Distress Index score of 73.3 out of 100, placing it in the Serious zone. It ranks 257th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 33rd in Texas out of 254 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Zapata County?

    The primary driver of distress in Zapata County is Consumer Credit Distress, where the county scores 94.8 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Debt in Collections, Medical Debt, Auto Loan Delinquency.

  • How does Zapata County compare to neighboring counties?

    Zapata County (73.3) can be compared to its 3 neighboring counties: Starr County, TX (80.3); Webb County, TX (78.4); Jim Hogg County, TX (73.6).

  • 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 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). Zapata County's score of 73.3 sits in the Serious zone (71–86).

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

    Zapata 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 Zapata County?

    Zapata County, Texas has a population of approximately 13,736 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.