In Hemphill County, Texas, rent on a two-bedroom takes about one in seven dollars of the typical household's income
In Hemphill County, 14.7% of the typical household's income would go to rent on a two-bedroom. That is lower than in 97% of U.S. counties.
Less distressed than 68% of U.S. counties.
What drives Hemphill County's score
In Hemphill County, late payments on loans are the highest-scoring part, at 56.8. Housing costs are the lowest part, at 6.5.
The County Distress Index looks at five parts of household money trouble in Hemphill 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, Hemphill County is worse off than most counties on people without health insurance (18.4%, 2020 to 2024) and unemployment rate, average over the latest year (4.9%, Oct 2025 to Sep 2026).
A longer bar means more trouble. See how the county score works.
- 56.8 of 100
Late payments
Biggest factorCredit records, August 2025; credit scores, second quarter of 2026
- People with a credit card behind7.3% · August 202576th 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 score32.1% · second quarter of 202619th percentile
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- 48.6 of 100
Jobs
Unemployment through Sep 2026; adults not working, 2020–24 Census survey
- Unemployment rate, average over the latest year4.9% · Oct 2025 to Sep 202678th percentile
- Adults 25 to 54 not working15.6% · 2020 to 202419th percentile
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- 48.2 of 100
Income and safety net
Poverty and income, 2024; disability and insurance, 2020–24 Census survey
- People below the poverty line10.2% · 202423rd percentile
- Children below the poverty line14.5% · 202436th percentile
- People with a disability18.2% · 2020 to 202469th percentile
- People without health insurance18.4% · 2020 to 202494th percentile
- Median household income (lower income, longer bar)$83,011 · 202416th percentile
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- 38.1 of 100
Collections and bankruptcy
Credit records, August 2025; bankruptcy filings, 2025
- People with unpaid debt sent to a collector29.0% · August 202571st percentile
- Bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people31.4 · 20255th or lower percentile
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- 6.5 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 rent8.0% · 2020 to 20248th percentile
- Rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income14.7% · fiscal year 20275th or lower 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 Hemphill 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 Hemphill County, 23.0% of residents are 65 or older (Census Bureau, 2024), against 17.2% nationally that year.
Cents of every dollar of income, 2024
Hemphill County
Texas
United States
- Pay from work
- Investments and rent
- Benefit checks
Benefit checks' share of income in Hemphill County had its largest rise, from 4.6% in 2014 to 10.6% in 2019.
In Hemphill County, benefit checks' share of income has doubled since 1969, reaching 13.6% in 2024, but pay from work still brings in about four times as much as benefit checks
In Hemphill County, Texas, benefit checks' share of income doubled from 1969 to 2024, reaching 13.6%; pay from work is plotted alongside. Every fifth year and 2024 are shown.
- Benefit checks
- Pay from work
The share of households in Hemphill County getting SNAP food aid had its largest rise in the last span, from 4.4% in 2023 to 9.1% in 2024.
The share of households in Hemphill County getting SNAP food aid was at its highest on the chart in 2018 and has since fallen to 9.1%
Low on the chart: 2.6% 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, Hemphill County, Texas.
How Hemphill County has changed
Hemphill County's population had its largest drop, from 5,754 in 1984 to 3,807 in 1989.
Hemphill County's population was at its highest on the chart in 1984 and has since fallen by about half
High on the chart: 5,754 in 1984. Residents, yearly estimate, every fifth year and 2024, Hemphill County, Texas.
The number of jobs located in Hemphill County had its largest drop, from 2,228 in 2015 to 1,735 in 2020.
The number of jobs located in Hemphill County was at its highest on the chart in 2015 and is down 42% since
High on the chart: 2,228 in 2015. Yearly average of jobs covered by unemployment insurance, every fifth year and 2025, Hemphill County, Texas.
| Measure | Then | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rateBLS LAUS | 1990 2.5% | 2025 4.8% |
| People below the poverty lineCensus SAIPE | 1989 7.1% | 2024 10.2% |
| Median household incomeCensus SAIPE | 1989 $33,260 | 2024 $83,011 |
The table uses 4.8% for 2025; the score uses 4.9% 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 Hemphill County's history
1980
The county's largest recorded population was the 1980 Census count of 5,304. The 2020 Census counted 3,382, 64% of the peak. Census Bureau
2007
A tornado in March 2007 did $3 million in property damage and killed one person. NOAA Storm Events Database
2014
A flood in June 2014 killed two people. NOAA Storm Events Database
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Since 1998
13 federal disaster and emergency declarations have covered Hemphill County. FEMA
Hemphill County beside its neighbors
Of the five counties that border Hemphill County, in Texas and Oklahoma, three score higher. For the share of income from benefit checks, Hemphill County ranks 5th of the six; Wheeler County is highest, at 34.4%.
| County | Score | Poverty | Benefit checks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ellis County, OK | 55 | 12.8% | 21.8% |
| Wheeler County, TX | 47 | 13.5% | 34.4% |
| Roberts County, TX | 33 | 8.6% | 15.8% |
| Hemphill County, TX | 31 | 10.2% | 13.6% |
| Roger Mills County, OK | 24 | 14.1% | 26.0% |
| Lipscomb County, TX | 20 | 13.4% | 9.1% |
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 Hemphill County the poorest county in Texas?
No, Hemphill County's poverty rate was 10.2% in 2024, 220th 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, Hemphill County ranks 230th of 254 in the state.
If you're behind on your mortgage in Hemphill 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 Hemphill 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 Hemphill County comes from, 2024.
- History The agencies named in each row and the linked records above.