About three in ten adults aged 25 to 54 in Cochran County, Texas, are not working
In Cochran County, 31.1% of adults aged 25 to 54 were not working. That is higher than in 91% of U.S. counties.
More distressed than 79% of U.S. counties.
What drives Cochran County's score
In Cochran County, income and the safety net weighs most: the score for income and the safety net is 90.9. About one in four people (27.2%, 2020 to 2024) has no health insurance, a higher share than in 95% of U.S. counties. Late payments on loans come next, at 80.6.
The County Distress Index looks at five parts of household money trouble in Cochran County: jobs, late payments on loans, income and the safety net, collections and bankruptcy, and housing costs. Each part is scored from 0 to 100, and a higher score means worse off than other counties.
Cochran County does better than most counties on two measures: renters paying half their income or more in rent (5.8%, 2020 to 2024) and unemployment rate, average over the latest year (3.9%, Oct 2025 to Sep 2026).
A longer bar means more trouble. See how the county score works.
- 90.9 of 100
Income and safety net
Biggest factorPoverty and income, 2024; disability and insurance, 2020–24 Census survey
- People below the poverty line20.8% · 202489th percentile
- Children below the poverty line31.1% · 202493rd percentile
- People with a disability22.0% · 2020 to 202488th percentile
- People without health insurance27.2% · 2020 to 2024top 5%
- Median household income (lower income, longer bar)$52,164 · 202488th percentile
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- 80.6 of 100
Late payments
Credit records, August 2025; credit scores, second quarter of 2026
- People with a credit card behindnot published for this county; scored at the state median · August 202573rd percentile
- People with a car or retail loan behindnot published for this county; scored at the state median · August 202573rd percentile
- People with a subprime credit score61.6% · second quarter of 2026top 5%
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- 69.6 of 100
Jobs
Unemployment through Sep 2026; adults not working, 2020–24 Census survey
- Unemployment rate, average over the latest year3.9% · Oct 2025 to Sep 202647th percentile
- Adults 25 to 54 not working31.1% · 2020 to 202491st percentile
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- 56.2 of 100
Collections and bankruptcy
Credit records, August 2025; bankruptcy filings, 2025
- People with unpaid debt sent to a collector35.8% · August 202587th percentile
- Bankruptcy filings per 100,000 peoplenot published for this county; scored at the state median · 202524th percentile
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- 39.3 of 100
Housing costs
Renters, 2020–24 Census survey; HUD's fair market rents, fiscal year 2027
- Renters paying half their income or more in rent5.8% · 2020 to 20245th or lower percentile
- Rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income23.3% · fiscal year 202773rd percentile
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Sources: Urban Institute, Debt in America; Equifax via the St. Louis Fed; Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, Table F-5A; U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey; U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Fair Market Rents and Census income; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates. County Distress Index by American Default Research, from data through Sep 2026.
Where the money in Cochran County comes from
Benefit checks are Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid paid on people's behalf, veterans' benefits, and food and income support, so a high share usually means an older population, low pay, or both. In Cochran County, 14.4% of residents are 65 or older (Census Bureau, 2024), against 17.2% nationally that year.
Cents of every dollar of income, 2024
Cochran County
Texas
United States
- Pay from work
- Investments and rent
- Benefit checks
Benefit checks' share of income in Cochran County had its largest rise, from 19.8% in 2004 to 29.8% in 2009.
In Cochran County, benefit checks' share of income has more than tripled since 1969, reaching 27.4% in 2024, but pay from work still brings in more than twice as much as benefit checks
In Cochran County, Texas, benefit checks' share of income more than tripled from 1969 to 2024, reaching 27.4%; pay from work is plotted alongside. Every fifth year and 2024 are shown.
- Benefit checks
- Pay from work
The share of households in Cochran County getting SNAP food aid had its largest rise, from 19.2% in 2021 to 22.7% in 2022.
The share of households in Cochran County getting SNAP food aid was at its highest on the chart in 2023 and has since fallen to 21.7%
Low on the chart: 13.7% in 2018. Households getting SNAP, every year; each bar is a five-year survey estimate ending that year, so neighboring bars share most of their data, Cochran County, Texas.
How Cochran County has changed
Cochran County's population had its largest drop, from 5,670 in 1969 to 4,998 in 1974.
Cochran County's population fell by about half from 1969 to 2024, reaching 2,583
High on the chart: 5,670 in 1969. Residents, yearly estimate, every fifth year and 2024, Cochran County, Texas.
The number of jobs located in Cochran County had its largest drop, from 1,323 in 1990 to 1,079 in 1995.
The number of jobs located in Cochran County fell by about half from 1990 to 2025, reaching 685
High on the chart: 1,323 in 1990. Yearly average of jobs covered by unemployment insurance, every fifth year and 2025, Cochran County, Texas.
| Measure | Then | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rateBLS LAUS | 1990 4.1% | 2025 3.9% |
| People below the poverty lineCensus SAIPE | 1989 28.8% | 2024 20.8% |
| Median household incomeCensus SAIPE | 1989 $20,053 | 2024 $52,164 |
Figures are as each agency published them, not adjusted for prices.
Dated events in Cochran County's history
1876
Created in 1876 and later organized in 1924. Wikipedia
1921
Slaughter cattle company dissolved. Wikipedia
1960
The county's largest recorded population was the 1960 Census count of 6,417. The 2020 Census counted 2,547, 40% of the peak. Census Bureau
1970
A tornado in April 1970 did $25 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2009
A thunderstorm in July 2009 did $1.5 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2009
Hail in July 2009 did $3 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
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Since 1970
16 federal disaster and emergency declarations have covered Cochran County, 3 of them for flooding. FEMA
Cochran County beside its neighbors
Cochran County scores higher than all five counties that border it, in Texas and New Mexico. For the share of income from benefit checks, Cochran County ranks 2nd of the six; Roosevelt County is highest, at 28.1%.
| County | Score | Poverty | Benefit checks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cochran County, TX | 79 | 20.8% | 27.4% |
| Roosevelt County, NM | 77 | 20.1% | 28.1% |
| Lea County, NM | 73 | 15.7% | 19.0% |
| Hockley County, TX | 71 | 15.8% | 27.2% |
| Bailey County, TX | 57 | 15.6% | 20.5% |
| Yoakum County, TX | 41 | 12.6% | 19.8% |
Distress score: American Default Research, County Distress Index, data through Sep 2026; each county scored against all 3,144. Poverty rate: Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates, 2024. Benefit checks: Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024. Neighbors share a border, from Census county maps.
Is Cochran County the poorest county in Texas?
No, Cochran County's poverty rate was 20.8% in 2024, 31st highest of 254 in Texas (U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates). By that measure the poorest county in the state is Starr County, at 35.4%. On our distress index, which counts more than poverty, Cochran County ranks 70th of 254 in the state.
If you're behind on your mortgage in Cochran County
Housing counselors approved by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development work at nonprofit agencies. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau describes free foreclosure-avoidance counseling, including help with mortgage-company conversations and available options Source CFPB.
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Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas
Legal aid
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HUD-approved housing counselors
Our help directory lists 1,010 agencies approved for foreclosure counseling, by state.
The score, its 14 measures and their sources, in one file. Free to use with credit to American Default Research.
Download the CSV for Cochran County · Every U.S. county (CSV)
Sources and method
- American Default Research · County Distress Index Data through Sep 2026, built from Urban Institute, Debt in America; Equifax via the St. Louis Fed; U.S. Courts, Table F-5A; Census Bureau, American Community Survey; HUD Fair Market Rents and Census income; Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates. The County Distress Index is American Default Research's own calculation; the Urban Institute does not produce or endorse it. Our methodology
- Urban Institute · Debt in America Breno Braga, Signe-Mary McKernan, Samantha Atherton, and Kassandra Martinchek, "Debt in America," last updated November 20, 2025, https://datacatalog.urban.org/dataset/debt-america-2025. Licensed under ODC-By 1.0.
- Rent on a two-bedroom and household income The rent share compares HUD fair market rent for fiscal year 2027 with Census Bureau median household income for 2024. The page calls this the typical household's income.
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Economic Accounts (CAINC4) · income shares Where the money in Cochran County comes from, 2024.
- History The agencies named in each row and the linked records above.