Fort Bend County, Texas

County Distress Index: Normal · 42.4 | 916,778 people · 225th most distressed in Texas
American Default Research

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Fort Bend County, TX falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 42.4 — 2182nd nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Housing Cost Burden, where housing costs consume a moderate share of household income. Within Texas, it ranks 225th of 254 counties. It scores lower than all 5 of its neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five domains of financial distress. Fort Bend County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 61.9 — above the national median.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 61.9
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 87
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 82
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 90
Homeownership Rate 33
Rent-to-Income Ratio 18
Debt & Delinquency 55.6
Debt in Collections 53
Medical Debt 56
Student Loan Delinquency 62
Auto Loan Delinquency 68
Credit Card Delinquency 53
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 42
Employment & Wages 48.5
Unemployment Rate 61
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 81
Business Formation Rate 4
Community Vulnerability 38.7
Uninsured Rate 77
Disability Rate 1
Income & Poverty 7.3
Poverty Rate 10
Income vs. State Median 1
Child Poverty Rate 11

Scores are percentile-based: 50 = national median, higher = more distressed. The median line is shown on each bar.

Neighbors and Peers

How Fort Bend County compares to its 5 neighboring counties and population peers.

Neighboring Counties

County Score Zone vs. Fort Bend County
Fort Bend County, TX 42.4 Normal —
Wharton County, TX 63.1 Elevated +20.8
Harris County, TX 59.2 Elevated +16.8
Waller County, TX 56.5 Elevated +14.2
Austin County, TX 48.1 Normal +5.7
Brazoria County, TX 44.9 Normal +2.5

Population Peers

County Score Zone vs. Fort Bend County
Rockland County, NY 42.4 Normal -0.0
Kane County, IL 42.3 Normal -0.1
Lancaster County, PA 42.5 Normal +0.1
El Paso County, CO 42.2 Normal -0.2
Sonoma County, CA 42.7 Normal +0.3

Download Data

Export all distress indicators for Fort Bend County as a CSV file.

Find Help in Fort Bend County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Fort Bend County.

MONEY MANAGEMENT INTERNATIONAL - HOUSTON CALL CENTER
Stafford
866-232-9080 Website
Foreclosure PreventionFinancial CounselingPost-PurchasePre-Purchase
MONEY MANAGEMENT INTERNATIONAL INC.
Stafford
866-232-9080 Website
Foreclosure PreventionFinancial CounselingPost-PurchasePre-Purchase

See all counselors in Texas →

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 Fort Bend 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 Fort Bend County, Texas?

    Fort Bend County has a County Distress Index score of 42.4 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 2,182nd nationally out of 3,144 counties and 225th in Texas out of 254 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Fort Bend County?

    The primary driver of distress in Fort Bend County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 61.9 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Fort Bend County compare to neighboring counties?

    Fort Bend County (42.4) can be compared to its 5 neighboring counties: Wharton County, TX (63.1); Harris County, TX (59.2); Waller County, TX (56.5).

  • How is the County Distress Index calculated?

    The County Distress Index uses percentile-rank averaging across five domains: Debt & Delinquency, Income & Poverty, Housing Cost Burden, Employment & Wages, and Community Vulnerability. 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.

  • What is the population of Fort Bend County?

    Fort Bend County, Texas has a population of approximately 916,778 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a large county.