In Dallas County, Texas, rent on a two-bedroom takes about one in four dollars of the typical household's income
In Dallas County, 27.5% of the typical household's income would go to rent on a two-bedroom. That is higher than in 92% of U.S. counties.
More distressed than 79% of U.S. counties.
What drives Dallas County's score
In Dallas County, housing costs weigh most: the score for housing costs is 87.0. Late payments on loans come next, at 79.1.
The County Distress Index looks at five parts of household money trouble in Dallas 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.
Dallas County does better than most counties on two measures: people with a disability (10.9%, 2020 to 2024) and median household income ($78,910, 2024).
A longer bar means more trouble. See how the county score works.
- 87.1 of 100
Housing costs
Biggest factorRenters, 2020–24 Census survey; HUD's fair market rents, fiscal year 2027
- Renters paying half their income or more in rent23.9% · 2020 to 202482nd percentile
- Rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income27.5% · fiscal year 202792nd percentile
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- 79.1 of 100
Late payments
Credit records, August 2025; credit scores, second quarter of 2026
- People with a credit card behind7.4% · August 202577th percentile
- People with a car or retail loan behind8.6% · August 202586th percentile
- People with a subprime credit score47.5% · second quarter of 202673rd percentile
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- 76.3 of 100
Collections and bankruptcy
Credit records, August 2025; bankruptcy filings, 2025
- People with unpaid debt sent to a collector36.7% · August 202589th percentile
- Bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people160.3 · 202563rd percentile
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- 49.9 of 100
Jobs
Unemployment through Sep 2026; adults not working, 2020–24 Census survey
- Unemployment rate, average over the latest year4.3% · Oct 2025 to Sep 202659th percentile
- Adults 25 to 54 not working19.2% · 2020 to 202440th percentile
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- 44.4 of 100
Income and safety net
Poverty and income, 2024; disability and insurance, 2020–24 Census survey
- People below the poverty line12.5% · 202444th percentile
- Children below the poverty line17.2% · 202450th percentile
- People with a disability10.9% · 2020 to 20247th percentile
- People without health insurance21.5% · 2020 to 202497th percentile
- Median household income (lower income, longer bar)$78,910 · 202422nd 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 Dallas 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 Dallas County, 11.8% of residents are 65 or older (Census Bureau, 2024), against 17.2% nationally that year.
Cents of every dollar of income, 2024
Dallas County
Texas
United States
- Pay from work
- Investments and rent
- Benefit checks
Benefit checks' share of income in Dallas County had its largest rise, from 9.5% in 2004 to 13.4% in 2009.
In Dallas County, benefit checks' share of income has more than doubled since 1969, reaching 11.1% in 2024, but pay from work still brings in about six times as much as benefit checks
In Dallas County, Texas, benefit checks' share of income more than doubled from 1969 to 2024, reaching 11.1%; pay from work is plotted alongside. Every fifth year and 2024 are shown.
- Benefit checks
- Pay from work
The share of households in Dallas County getting SNAP food aid had its largest rise, from 11.2% in 2012 to 12.9% in 2013.
The share of households in Dallas County getting SNAP food aid was at its highest on the chart in 2015 and has since fallen to 10.5%
Low on the chart: 8.1% in 2009. Households getting SNAP, every year; each bar is a five-year survey estimate ending that year, so neighboring bars share most of their data, Dallas County, Texas.
How Dallas County has changed
Dallas County's population had its largest rise, from 1,999,337 in 1994 to 2,197,658 in 1999.
Dallas County's population doubled from 1969 to 2024, reaching 2,656,028, with no dip in any year shown
Smallest rise: 2019 to 2024, reaching 2,656,028. Residents, yearly estimate, every fifth year and 2024, Dallas County, Texas.
The jobs count covers work located in the county; the population count covers residents.
The number of jobs located in Dallas County rose by more than half to 1,829,643, the highest on the chart
Biggest rise: 1995 to 2000, reaching 1,565,365. Yearly average of jobs covered by unemployment insurance, every fifth year and 2025, Dallas County, Texas.
| Measure | Then | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rateBLS LAUS | 1990 5.3% | 2025 4.1% |
| People below the poverty lineCensus SAIPE | 1989 13.8% | 2024 12.5% |
| Median household incomeCensus SAIPE | 1989 $30,570 | 2024 $78,910 |
The table uses 4.1% for 2025; the score uses 4.3% for the latest year (Oct 2025 to Sep 2026), both from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Figures are as each agency published them, not adjusted for prices.
Dated events in Dallas County's history
1900
Dallas became the largest inland cotton market in the world. Wikipedia
1914
Dallas selected as seat of Eleventh Federal Reserve District. Wikipedia
1921
Latin American population drawn to Dallas by American Dream, better living conditions, and Mexican Revolution. Wikipedia
1930
Columbus Marion "Dad" Joiner struck oil near Kilgore, spawning East Texas oil boom. Wikipedia
2012
Hail in June 2012 did $900 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2019
A tornado in October 2019 did $1.55 billion in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2020
The county's largest recorded population was the 2020 Census count of 2,613,539, which is also its most recent census. Census Bureau
2022
A flash flood in August 2022 did $500 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2022
A flood in August 2022 did $500 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
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Since 1966
28 federal disaster and emergency declarations have covered Dallas County, 8 of them for flooding. FEMA
Dallas County beside its neighbors
Dallas County scores higher than all six counties that border it. For the share of income from benefit checks, Dallas County ranks 5th of the seven; Ellis County is highest, at 16.8%.
| County | Score | Poverty | Benefit checks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dallas County, TX | 79 | 12.5% | 11.1% |
| Kaufman County, TX | 77 | 8.5% | 16.5% |
| Tarrant County, TX | 71 | 11.5% | 13.4% |
| Ellis County, TX | 59 | 7.5% | 16.8% |
| Denton County, TX | 31 | 6.2% | 9.5% |
| Rockwall County, TX | 31 | 5.5% | 11.2% |
| Collin County, TX | 25 | 5.7% | 8.2% |
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 Dallas County the poorest county in Texas?
No, Dallas County's poverty rate was 12.5% in 2024, 181st 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, Dallas County ranks 69th of 254 in the state.
If you're behind on your mortgage in Dallas 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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Balance - Dallas
HUD-approved housing counselor
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BCL of Texas (business and Community Lenders)
HUD-approved housing counselor
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Dallas Area Habitat for Humanity
HUD-approved housing counselor
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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 Dallas 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 Dallas County comes from, 2024.
- History The agencies named in each row and the linked records above.