Unemployment in Eastland County, Texas, is higher than in 90% of U.S. counties
In Eastland County, 5.7% of the labor force was out of work, on average. That is higher than in 90% of U.S. counties.
More distressed than 78% of U.S. counties.
What drives Eastland County's score
In Eastland County, income and the safety net weighs most: the score for income and the safety net is 81.0. About one in seven people (15.3%, 2020 to 2024) has no health insurance, a higher share than in 89% of U.S. counties. Jobs come next, at 76.2.
The County Distress Index looks at five parts of household money trouble in Eastland 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.
Eastland County does better than most counties on two measures: renters paying half their income or more in rent (15.4%, 2020 to 2024) and bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people (110.9, 2025).
A longer bar means more trouble. See how the county score works.
- 81.0 of 100
Income and safety net
Biggest factorPoverty and income, 2024; disability and insurance, 2020–24 Census survey
- People below the poverty line18.5% · 202481st percentile
- Children below the poverty line26.7% · 202486th percentile
- People with a disability17.5% · 2020 to 202463rd percentile
- People without health insurance15.3% · 2020 to 202489th percentile
- Median household income (lower income, longer bar)$54,528 · 202483rd percentile
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- 76.2 of 100
Jobs
Unemployment through Sep 2026; adults not working, 2020–24 Census survey
- Unemployment rate, average over the latest year5.7% · Oct 2025 to Sep 202690th percentile
- Adults 25 to 54 not working22.7% · 2020 to 202461st percentile
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- 65.4 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 people110.9 · 202541st percentile
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- 61.2 of 100
Late payments
Credit records, August 2025; credit scores, second quarter of 2026
- People with a credit card behind5.8% · August 202556th percentile
- People with a car or retail loan behind5.0% · August 202546th percentile
- People with a subprime credit score50.2% · second quarter of 202680th percentile
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- 49.8 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 rent15.4% · 2020 to 202433rd percentile
- Rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income22.3% · fiscal year 202765th 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 Eastland 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 Eastland County, 21.9% of residents are 65 or older (Census Bureau, 2024), against 17.2% nationally that year.
Cents of every dollar of income, 2024
Eastland County
Texas
United States
- Pay from work
- Investments and rent
- Benefit checks
In Eastland County, benefit checks' share of income has nearly doubled since 1969, reaching 34.8% in 2024, but pay from work still brings in only a little more than benefit checks
In Eastland County, Texas, benefit checks' share of income nearly doubled from 1969 to 2024, reaching 34.8%; pay from work is plotted alongside. Every fifth year and 2024 are shown.
- Benefit checks
- Pay from work
The share of households in Eastland County getting SNAP food aid had its largest rise, from 11.1% in 2017 to 14.0% in 2018.
The share of households in Eastland County getting SNAP food aid fell by about a quarter from 2009 to 2024, reaching 11.8%
High on the chart: 15.8% in 2012. Households getting SNAP, every year; each bar is a five-year survey estimate ending that year, so neighboring bars share most of their data, Eastland County, Texas.
How Eastland County has changed
Eastland County's population had its largest drop, from 21,028 in 1984 to 18,761 in 1989.
Eastland County's population was at its highest on the chart in 1984 and is down 13% since
High on the chart: 21,028 in 1984. Residents, yearly estimate, every fifth year and 2024, Eastland County, Texas.
The number of jobs located in Eastland County had its largest rise, from 5,429 in 1995 to 6,890 in 2000.
The number of jobs located in Eastland County was at its highest on the chart in 2015 and has since fallen by about a fifth
High on the chart: 7,316 in 2015. Yearly average of jobs covered by unemployment insurance, every fifth year and 2025, Eastland County, Texas.
| Measure | Then | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rateBLS LAUS | 1990 7.3% | 2025 5.3% |
| People below the poverty lineCensus SAIPE | 1989 20.0% | 2024 18.5% |
| Median household incomeCensus SAIPE | 1989 $17,022 | 2024 $54,528 |
The table uses 5.3% for 2025; the score uses 5.7% 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 Eastland County's history
1858
The county was founded in 1858 and organized in 1873. Wikipedia
1920
The county's largest recorded population was the 1920 Census count of 58,505. The 2020 Census counted 17,725, 30% of the peak. Census Bureau
2002
Hail in March 2002 did $2 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2007
A flood in June 2007 did $1.2 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2015
A tornado in May 2015 killed one person. NOAA Storm Events Database
2021
Hail in April 2021 did $1 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
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Since 1990
22 federal disaster and emergency declarations have covered Eastland County, 8 of them for flooding. FEMA
Eastland County beside its neighbors
Of the seven counties that border Eastland County, two score higher. Of the group, Eastland County gets the largest share of its income from benefit checks (34.8%).
| County | Score | Poverty | Benefit checks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brown County, TX | 86 | 16.7% | 33.5% |
| Palo Pinto County, TX | 80 | 16.0% | 26.4% |
| Eastland County, TX | 78 | 18.5% | 34.8% |
| Stephens County, TX | 74 | 17.7% | 30.4% |
| Erath County, TX | 68 | 14.9% | 21.3% |
| Callahan County, TX | 54 | 11.5% | 27.8% |
| Comanche County, TX | 48 | 14.5% | 28.7% |
| Shackelford County, TX | 42 | 12.1% | 16.5% |
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 Eastland County the poorest county in Texas?
No, Eastland County's poverty rate was 18.5% in 2024, 54th 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, Eastland County ranks 79th of 254 in the state.
If you're behind on your mortgage in Eastland 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 Eastland 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 Eastland County comes from, 2024.
- History The agencies named in each row and the linked records above.