In Hays County, Texas, benefit checks make up only 13 cents of every dollar of income
In Hays County, 12.8% of all the income people there received came from benefit checks. That is lower than in 96% of U.S. counties.
Less distressed than 56% of U.S. counties.
What drives Hays County's score
In Hays County, housing costs are the highest-scoring part, at 86.7. Income and the safety net is the lowest part, at 26.8. About one in 12 children (8.1%, 2024) lives below the poverty line, a lower share than in 93% of U.S. counties.
The County Distress Index looks at five parts of household money trouble in Hays 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.
Even so, Hays County is worse off than most counties on renters paying half their income or more in rent (29.8%, 2020 to 2024) and people without health insurance (11.6%, 2020 to 2024).
A longer bar means more trouble. See how the county score works.
- 86.7 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 rent29.8% · 2020 to 202496th percentile
- Rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income23.7% · fiscal year 202776th percentile
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- 45.5 of 100
Late payments
Credit records, August 2025; credit scores, second quarter of 2026
- People with a credit card behind5.5% · August 202550th percentile
- People with a car or retail loan behind5.2% · August 202550th percentile
- People with a subprime credit score36.5% · second quarter of 202635th percentile
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- 43.6 of 100
Collections and bankruptcy
Credit records, August 2025; bankruptcy filings, 2025
- People with unpaid debt sent to a collector24.9% · August 202556th percentile
- Bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people88.8 · 202530th percentile
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- 29.4 of 100
Jobs
Unemployment through Sep 2026; adults not working, 2020–24 Census survey
- Unemployment rate, average over the latest year3.7% · Oct 2025 to Sep 202637th percentile
- Adults 25 to 54 not working16.0% · 2020 to 202421st percentile
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- 26.8 of 100
Income and safety net
Poverty and income, 2024; disability and insurance, 2020–24 Census survey
- People below the poverty line10.8% · 202429th percentile
- Children below the poverty line8.1% · 20246th percentile
- People with a disability11.7% · 2020 to 202412th percentile
- People without health insurance11.6% · 2020 to 202476th percentile
- Median household income (lower income, longer bar)$91,880 · 20249th 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 Hays 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 Hays County, 12.2% of residents are 65 or older (Census Bureau, 2024), against 17.2% nationally that year.
Cents of every dollar of income, 2024
Hays County
Texas
United States
- Pay from work
- Investments and rent
- Benefit checks
Benefit checks' share of income in Hays County had its largest rise, from 11.3% in 2004 to 13.3% in 2009.
In Hays County, benefit checks' share of income has risen by more than half since 1969, reaching 12.8% in 2024, but pay from work still brings in about five times as much as benefit checks
In Hays County, Texas, benefit checks' share of income rose by more than half from 1969 to 2024, reaching 12.8%; pay from work is plotted alongside. Every fifth year and 2024 are shown.
- Benefit checks
- Pay from work
The share of households in Hays County getting SNAP food aid had its largest rise, from 5.0% in 2010 to 6.4% in 2011.
The share of households in Hays County getting SNAP food aid was at its highest on the chart in 2014 and has since fallen to 5.0%
Low on the chart: 4.9% 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, Hays County, Texas.
How Hays County has changed
Hays County's population had its largest rise in the last span, from 232,520 in 2019 to 292,029 in 2024.
Hays County's population grew to more than ten times its 1969 size in 2024, reaching 292,029, with no dip in any year shown
Smallest rise: 1974 to 1979, reaching 39,210. Residents, yearly estimate, every fifth year and 2024, Hays County, Texas.
The number of jobs located in Hays County had its largest rise in the last span, from 71,835 in 2020 to 98,495 in 2025.
The number of jobs located in Hays County grew to about five times its 1990 size in 2025, reaching 98,495, with no dip in any year shown
Smallest rise: 2000 to 2005, reaching 41,128. Yearly average of jobs covered by unemployment insurance, every fifth year and 2025, Hays County, Texas.
| Measure | Then | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rateBLS LAUS | 1990 5.2% | 2025 3.4% |
| People below the poverty lineCensus SAIPE | 1989 16.6% | 2024 10.8% |
| Median household incomeCensus SAIPE | 1989 $24,716 | 2024 $91,880 |
The table uses 3.4% for 2025; the score uses 3.7% 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 Hays County's history
1848
Formed March 1, 1848 from Travis County. Wikipedia
1899
Southwest Texas State Normal School established in San Marcos. Wikipedia
1942
San Marcos Army Air Field opened as military base. Wikipedia
1963
Gary Air Force Base deactivated and handed to Army then closed. Wikipedia
1964
Job Corps center established at deactivated Gary Air Force Base. Wikipedia
1980
A tornado in August 1980 did $25 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2006
Hail in April 2006 did $100 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2015
A flash flood in May 2015 did $100 million in property damage and killed 10 people. NOAA Storm Events Database
2015
A flash flood in May 2015 did $100 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2020
The county's largest recorded population was the 2020 Census count of 241,067, which is also its most recent census. Census Bureau
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Since 1970
23 federal disaster and emergency declarations have covered Hays County, 10 of them for flooding. FEMA
Hays County beside its neighbors
Of the five counties that border Hays County, one scores higher. For the share of income from benefit checks, Hays County ranks 5th of the six; Caldwell County is highest, at 24.0%.
| County | Score | Poverty | Benefit checks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Caldwell County, TX | 70 | 11.8% | 24.0% |
| Hays County, TX | 43 | 10.8% | 12.8% |
| Guadalupe County, TX | 41 | 7.9% | 19.5% |
| Travis County, TX | 32 | 10.5% | 7.6% |
| Comal County, TX | 26 | 6.9% | 17.2% |
| Blanco County, TX | 16 | 8.0% | 19.2% |
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 Hays County the poorest county in Texas?
No, Hays County's poverty rate was 10.8% in 2024, 214th 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, Hays County ranks 202nd of 254 in the state.
If you're behind on your mortgage in Hays 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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Texas RioGrande Legal Aid
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.
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 Hays County comes from, 2024.
- History The agencies named in each row and the linked records above.