Texas Financial Distress Profile
Household debt and delinquency, bankruptcy filings, unemployment, foreclosure law and county distress scores for Texas and its 254 counties, from federal sources, each shown beside the U.S. figure.
· Data from Federal Reserve Bank of New York, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, Q4 2025
Behind on your mortgage in Texas? See your options under Texas law →
Texas ranks #4 of 51 jurisdictions on the State Distress Index, in the most distressed fifth: its score of 94 means it is more distressed than 94% of the 50 states and D.C.. County Distress Index details are listed separately for its 254 counties.
How Does Texas Compare With the U.S.?
Texas is above the U.S. figure on 4 of 5 household debt measures from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York for Q4 2025: credit card delinquency (14.2%), auto loan delinquency (5.8%), mortgage delinquency (1.21%) and credit card balance per adult with a credit file ($4,620). Credit card delinquency is 14.2%, 1.8 percentage points above the U.S. 12.4%; total debt per adult with a credit file is $60,020, $3,180 below the U.S. $63,200.
Credit card delinquency in Texas is up 5 percentage points from 9.2% in Q4 2019, and total debt per adult with a credit file is 32.5% higher than in Q4 2019.
Key Statistics at a Glance
State Distress Index: Texas
Movement since 2006
Since 2006, Texas has climbed from the 10th-most distressed jurisdiction to the 7th-most distressed, as of 2025 Q1. Its State Distress Index score rose from 82 to 88 over the same span.
Quarter-aligned back-series. Each quarter re-ranks all 51 jurisdictions on that quarter's own data, so a state's position here can sit several spots from the current reading above, which uses each input's latest value.
Domain Breakdown
The national American Distress Index reads 47.0 (Typical). The composite itself sits higher than 44% of all published quarters since 2005. Texas's State Distress Index of 94 (extreme state distress) is computed from 4 equal-weighted domains covering delinquency, default and legal signals, housing-basis debt burden, and labor.
Texas and the U.S.
Delinquency rates measure balances 90 or more days past due as a share of total balances in each loan category. Higher rates signal greater household financial stress. Debt and balance figures are per adult with a credit file, not per resident.
Download all states (CSV)Texas and the U.S.: 5 Household Debt Measures (Q4 2025)
Source: NY Fed Consumer Credit Panel / Equifax, Q4 2025.
Similar States by Distress Level
The states ranked closest to Texas (#4) on the State Distress Index, with the domain that scores highest in each.
Change Since 2019
Q4 2019, the last fourth quarter before the pandemic, is the baseline. Credit card delinquency is higher than in Q4 2019 in 51 of 51 jurisdictions, and auto loan delinquency is higher in 33.
| Metric | Q4 2019 | Q4 2025 | Change | U.S. Q4 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Credit Card Delinquency | 9.2% | 14.2% | +5 percentage points | 12.4% |
| Auto Loan Delinquency | 5.8% | 5.8% | No change | 5.2% |
| Mortgage Delinquency | 0.89% | 1.21% | +0.32 percentage points | 0.94% |
| Total Debt per Adult With a Credit File | $45,290 | $60,020 | +32.5% | $63,200 |
| Card Balance per Adult With a Credit File | $3,470 | $4,620 | +33.1% | $4,350 |
Texas Foreclosure Law Summary
If you fall behind on mortgage payments, the steps and deadlines depend on state law. Texas mainly uses non-judicial foreclosure, which a lender can carry out without going to court.
Most Texas mortgage foreclosures are non-judicial — the lender sells the property through a trustee without going to court. Some liens need a court order first, including home equity loans, property owners' association assessment liens, and reverse m…
- Paying to stop the foreclosure: At least 20 days from the date the default notice is sent.
- Spousal Joinder Requirement
- Home Equity Loan Constitutional Protections
- Rescission of Foreclosure Sales
Non-Judicial Foreclosure and Above-U.S. Delinquency
4 of 5 NY Fed household debt measures in Texas are above the U.S. figure, and the state mainly uses non-judicial foreclosure, which a lender can carry out without going to court. In Texas, foreclosures that finished in the second quarter of 2026 took an average of 155 days from the start of the foreclosure process to completion, according to ATTOM. A U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development-approved housing counselor can explain the options at no cost; the Texas foreclosure guide lists the steps and deadlines.
Distress by County
The County Distress Index scores every county in Texas on a 0-100 scale using five equal-weighted domains: delinquency, default and legal, debt burden, labor, and safety net and buffer. Texas's 254 counties average 63.1: on average, Texas's counties are more distressed than 63% of U.S. counties. Across all 3,144 counties the average is 50.0, the middle of the scale.
Score Label Distribution
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Most Distressed Counties
| County | Score | Score Label | Top Driver |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starr County | 97 | extreme county distress | Delinquency |
| Dimmit County | 95 | extreme county distress | Labor |
| Liberty County | 95 | extreme county distress | Delinquency |
| Jim Wells County | 95 | extreme county distress | Delinquency |
| Kenedy County | 94 | extreme county distress | Debt Burden (housing basis) |
Starr County ranks #82 most distressed nationally out of 3,144 counties.
Least Distressed Counties
| County | Score | Score Label | Top Domain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Somervell County | 14 | very low county distress | Labor |
| Armstrong County | 14 | very low county distress | Delinquency |
| Blanco County | 16 | very low county distress | Labor |
| Gillespie County | 18 | very low county distress | Debt Burden (housing basis) |
| Lipscomb County | 18 | very low county distress | Labor |
The most distressed county in Texas is Starr County (97, extreme county distress); the least distressed is Somervell County (14, very low county distress).
Explore all 254 Texas counties →CFPB Mortgage Complaints in Texas
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has received 29,180 mortgage complaints from Texas since 2012, 95.7 per 100,000 residents, 39.3 below the U.S. rate of 135. Texas ranks #29 of 51 on complaints per resident.
| Year | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Complaints | 1,647 | 2,002 | 1,716 | 1,914 | 1,731 | 2,384 |
Source: CFPB Consumer Complaint Database. Filed a mortgage complaint? Search the complaint database.
Bankruptcy Filings: Texas
The filing rate is bankruptcy cases filed in a year, from the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, per 100,000 residents. It does not identify household causes, motives, assets, income, or case outcomes. Texas's rate of 124.8 is 44.3 below the U.S. rate of 169.1.
Source: U.S. Courts, Administrative Office. Table F-2: Cases Commenced by Chapter. Per-capita rates use 2024 U.S. Census Bureau population estimates.
Credit Distress: Texas
The Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia's Consumer Credit Explorer reports credit health from NY Fed / Equifax credit records. 21.2% of people with a credit file in Texas have debt in collections, 7.3 percentage points above the U.S. average of 13.9%. 22.4% have subprime credit scores (below 620), and 45.0% are credit-constrained.
Source: Philadelphia Fed Consumer Credit Explorer. Data from NY Fed Consumer Credit Panel / Equifax. Q1 2025. The U.S. average is weighted by state population (our calculation).
Economic Context: Texas
SNAP enrollment and unemployment give context for the debt figures above. The unemployment rate measures joblessness among people in the labor force. SNAP enrollment reflects each state's program rules and reach as well as need, which is why it is not part of the State Distress Index.
Sources: U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service, BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics. Population: U.S. Census Bureau 2024 estimates.
Safety Net Strength: Texas
The Safety Net Index measures how much support infrastructure is available to households in financial distress — combining healthcare coverage, food assistance, emergency housing funds, and legal protections. Texas scores 38.4 out of 100 (Weak), ranking #34 of 51 jurisdictions.
Component Breakdown
Sources: Kaiser Family Foundation (Medicaid, 2024), USDA FNS (SNAP, June 2026), state foreclosure statutes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the credit card delinquency rate in Texas?
The credit card delinquency rate in Texas is 14.2% as of Q4 2025, ranking #3 among the 51 states and DC, 1.8 percentage points above the U.S. 12.4%. It is up 5 percentage points from 9.2% in Q4 2019.
How does Texas's household debt compare with the U.S.?
The NY Fed reports a $60,020 total debt balance per adult with a credit file in Texas, $3,180 below the U.S. $63,200 on the same basis. That is 32.5% higher than in Q4 2019. Texas ranks #24 on that basis.
What is the auto loan delinquency rate in Texas?
Auto loan delinquency in Texas is 5.8% as of Q4 2025, 0.6 percentage points above the U.S. 5.2%. This ranks #14 of 51. The rate is the same as in Q4 2019.
What type of foreclosure process does Texas use?
Texas mainly uses non-judicial foreclosure, which a lender can carry out without going to court. See our Texas foreclosure guide for the timeline, homeowner protections and where to get free help.
What is Texas's State Distress Index score?
Texas scores 94 on the State Distress Index (extreme state distress), which means it is more distressed than 94% of the 50 states and D.C.. It ranks #4 of 51 jurisdictions, in the most distressed fifth. The score is built from 4 equal-weighted domains: delinquency, default and legal, debt burden on a housing basis, and labor. It ranks states against each other at one time. Separately, the national American Distress Index reads 47.0 (Typical) for the country over time. The composite itself sits higher than 44% of all published quarters since 2005.
How many CFPB mortgage complaints have been filed in Texas?
The CFPB has received 29,180 mortgage complaints from Texas since 2012, 95.7 per 100,000 residents, 39.3 below the U.S. rate of 135. That ranks #29 of 51. Companies responded to 98% of Texas complaints on time.
What is the bankruptcy filing rate in Texas?
Texas had 38,066 bankruptcy filings in the 12-month period ending Dec 2025, 124.8 per 100,000 residents, 44.3 below the U.S. rate of 169.1. This ranks #29 of 51. Chapter 7 filings account for 58.7% and Chapter 13 for 35.6%. That is 26.1% more filings than in 2024.
What percentage of people in Texas have debt in collections?
21.2% of people with a credit file in Texas have debt in collections, 7.3 percentage points above the U.S. average of 13.9%. This ranks #2 of 51. 22.4% have subprime credit scores (below 620), 5.5 percentage points above the U.S. average of 16.9%. Data from the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia Consumer Credit Explorer (NY Fed / Equifax), Q1 2025.
What is the SNAP enrollment rate in Texas?
2,810,903 residents of Texas received SNAP benefits in June 2026, an enrollment rate of 9.1%, 1.7 percentage points below the U.S. rate of 10.8%. This ranks #31 of 51. That is 18.7% fewer people than in June 2025. The rate is 1.4 percentage points below the October 2019 to February 2020 average.
How strong is Texas's financial safety net?
Texas scores 38.4 out of 100 on the Safety Net Index, ranking #34 of 51 (Weak). The score combines Medicaid coverage (14.6% enrollment rate, non-expansion state), SNAP enrollment (9.1%), and foreclosure legal protections. That is below the state average of 43.6.
Which Texas counties have the highest financial distress?
Starr County is the most distressed county in Texas with a County Distress Index score of 97 · extreme county distress, ranking #82 nationally out of 3,144 counties. Dimmit County (95 · extreme county distress), Liberty County (95 · extreme county distress), Jim Wells County (95 · extreme county distress) are next. Somervell County is the least distressed at 14 · very low county distress. See all 254 counties at /counties/texas/.
How long can foreclosure take in Texas?
Texas mainly uses non-judicial foreclosure, which a lender can carry out without going to court. In Texas, foreclosures that finished in the second quarter of 2026 took an average of 155 days from the start of the foreclosure process to completion, according to ATTOM. Individual cases vary with cure periods, mediation, postponements, court backlogs and bankruptcy filings. Paying to stop the foreclosure: At least 20 days from the date the default notice is sent. Homestead exemption: UNLIMITED dollar amount. Texas caps only acreage: 10 acres in a city, 200 acres for a rural family, 100 acres for a rural single adult. The exemption does not protect against liens the law allows on a homestead, such as a purchase-money mortgage or property taxes. Full details at /help/foreclosure/texas/.
Where does Texas rank for financial distress?
Texas scores 94 on the State Distress Index (extreme state distress), which means it is more distressed than 94% of the 50 states and D.C.. It ranks #4 of 51 jurisdictions, in the most distressed fifth. 4 of 5 NY Fed household debt measures are above the U.S. figure. The State Distress Index domain with the highest score is Delinquency. County Distress Index details are listed separately by county. The safety net ranks #34 (Weak), a state that has not expanded Medicaid.
Data Sources
NY Fed Consumer Credit Panel
State-level household debt and delinquency statistics from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, based on Equifax credit bureau data. Published once a year with fourth-quarter figures.
American Distress Index
Composite index tracking U.S. household financial distress across five equal-weighted domains. National score as of the latest available quarter.
Texas Foreclosure Statutes
State foreclosure law data compiled from primary statutory sources and validated against legal databases. Last verified 2026-03-05.
CFPB Complaint Database
Mortgage complaints filed with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, 2012–present. Density calculated using 2024 Census population estimates.
USDA SNAP State Activity
Monthly SNAP participation by state from the USDA Food and Nutrition Service. Enrollment rates computed against 2024 Census population estimates.
U.S. Bankruptcy Courts
Annual bankruptcy filings by chapter and district from the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts. Per-capita rates computed against 2024 Census population estimates.
Philadelphia Fed Consumer Credit Explorer
Quarterly credit health metrics (collections, subprime share, delinquency, credit-constrained rates) from Equifax via the NY Fed Consumer Credit Panel.
Safety Net Index
Composite score from KFF Medicaid enrollment (2024), USDA SNAP participation (latest month), and state foreclosure legal protections.