Unemployment in Maverick County, Texas, is higher than in 99% of U.S. counties
In Maverick County, 8.8% of the labor force was out of work, on average (Bureau of Labor Statistics, Sep 2025 to Aug 2026). That is higher than in 99% of U.S. counties.
More distressed than 89% of U.S. counties.
What drives Maverick County's score
In Maverick County, late payments on loans weigh most: the score for late payments on loans is 93.8. About two in five people (42.9%, Q4 2025) have a subprime credit score, a higher share than in 97% of U.S. counties. Jobs come next, at 92.3.
The County Distress Index combines five things we measure for every county: jobs, late payments on loans, income and the safety net, collections and bankruptcy, and housing costs. Each gets a score from 0 to 100; the higher the score, the worse off the county is compared with others.
Maverick County does better than most counties on two measures: bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people (26, 2025) and people with a disability (12.7%, 2020 to 2024).
The five parts count equally; together they hold 14 measures. Under each part, a bar shows where Maverick County ranks among all 3,144 U.S. counties on that measure, as a percentile: the share of counties it is higher than. A longer bar means more trouble.
- 93.8 of 100
Late payments
Biggest factorCredit records, August 2025; credit scores, Q4 2025
- People with a car or retail loan behind10.6% · August 202593rd percentile
- People with a credit card behind8.8% · August 202589th percentile
- People with a subprime credit score42.9% · Q4 202597th percentile
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- 92.3 of 100
Jobs
Adults not working, 2020–24 Census survey; unemployment through Aug 2026
- Adults 25 to 54 not working28.3% · 2020 to 202485th percentile
- Unemployment rate, 12-month average8.8% · Sep 2025 to Aug 202699th percentile
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- 78.7 of 100
Income and safety net
Poverty and income, 2024; disability and insurance, 2020–24 Census survey
- Children below the poverty line31.1% · 202493rd percentile
- People with a disability12.7% · 2020 to 202420th percentile
- Median household income (lower income, longer bar)$50,787 · 202490th percentile
- People below the poverty line21.8% · 202491st percentile
- People without health insurance23.4% · 2020 to 202498th percentile
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- 56.0 of 100
Housing costs
HUD's fair market rents, fiscal year 2027; renters, 2020–24 Census survey
- Rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income24.0% · fiscal year 202777th percentile
- Renters paying half their income or more in rent15.4% · 2020 to 202433rd percentile
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- 49.7 of 100
Collections and bankruptcy
Credit records, August 2025; bankruptcy filings, 2025
- People with unpaid debt sent to a collector43.4% · August 202597th percentile
- Bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people26 · 20251st percentile
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Sources: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Fair Market Rents and U.S. Census Bureau income; Census Bureau, American Community Survey; Urban Institute, Debt in America; Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, Table F-5A; Equifax via the St. Louis Fed; 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 Aug 2026.
Where the money in Maverick County comes from
The Bureau of Economic Analysis adds up all the income that reaches the people of a county and splits it three ways: pay from work, income from investments and rent, and benefit checks.
Cents of every dollar of income, 2024
Maverick County
Texas
United States
- Pay from work
- Investments and rent
- Benefit checks
In Maverick County in 2024, pay from work was 56 cents of every dollar of income. Income from investments and rentals was 10 cents. Benefit checks were 34 cents. Across the country, pay is 61 cents of the dollar and benefit checks are 18.
Benefit checks have grown from 14 cents of every dollar in 1969, but pay from work still brings in more.
In Maverick County, benefit checks rose from 14 to 34 cents of every dollar
Benefit checks and pay from work as shares of all personal income, Maverick County, Texas: 34.4% and 56.0% in 2024. Yearly, 1969–2024.
Use this chart Free to use with credit
The quote: In 2024, benefit checks made up 34.4% of all personal income in Maverick County, Texas (U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, CAINC4).
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 Maverick County, 12.0% of residents are 65 or older (Census Bureau, 2024), against 17.2% nationally.
How Maverick County has changed
The number of people living in Maverick County more than doubled between 1969 and 2024, from 19,022 to 58,829. The number of jobs located there more than doubled from 1990 to 2024.
Unemployment fell from 30.3% in 1990 to 9.4% in 2025.
| Measure | Then | Now |
|---|---|---|
| People living in the countyBEA | 1969 19,022 | 2024 58,829 |
| Jobs located in the countyBLS QCEW | 1990 7,960 | 2024 18,461 |
| Unemployment rateBLS LAUS | 1990 30.3% | 2025 9.4% |
| People below the poverty lineCensus SAIPE | 1989 48.0% | 2024 21.8% |
| Median household income (not adjusted for prices)Census SAIPE | 1989 $13,102 | 2024 $50,787 |
| Share of income from benefit checksBEA | 1969 14.1% | 2024 34.4% |
Figures are as each agency published them, not adjusted for prices. We don't chart the distress score over time because it compares counties at one moment.
Dated events in Maverick County's history
Largest decennial census count
The county's largest recorded population was the 2020 Census count of 57,887, which is also its most recent census. Census Bureau
1871
The county was created in 1856 and organized in 1871. Wikipedia
2004
Flash flood: $2 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2007
Tornado: $80 million in property damage, seven deaths. NOAA Storm Events Database
2015
Flash flood: $1 million in property damage, two deaths. NOAA Storm Events Database
2025
Flash flood: one death. NOAA Storm Events Database
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Since 1990
15 federal disaster and emergency declarations have covered Maverick County, 1 of them for flooding. FEMA
Storms are listed if they did $1 million or more in damage or killed someone.
Maverick County beside its neighbors
Of the four counties that border Maverick County, two score higher. For the share of income from benefit checks, Maverick County ranks 3rd of the five; Zavala County is highest, at 39.7%.
| County | Score | Poverty | Benefit checks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dimmit County, TX | 95 | 28.5% | 32.8% |
| Zavala County, TX | 94 | 25.7% | 39.7% |
| Maverick County, TX | 89 | 21.8% | 34.4% |
| Webb County, TX | 88 | 20.6% | 24.6% |
| Kinney County, TX | 54 | 20.7% | 35.5% |
Distress score: American Default Research, County Distress Index, data through Aug 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 Maverick County the poorest county in Texas?
No, Maverick County's poverty rate was 21.8% in 2024, 26th 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, Maverick County ranks 22nd of 254 in the state.
Maverick County in photographs
Places in Maverick County from Wikimedia Commons, each captioned in its photographer's own words.
Maverick Airport, TX - 20 Feb 2002 Source: United States Geological Survey digital orthophotoquad via TerraService WebMap Server.
Photo: Not stated on the file page via Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
Maverick County, Texas: common questions
What is the poverty rate in Maverick County, Texas?
21.8% in 2024, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates: about one in five people. Among children it was 31.1%.
Is Maverick County the poorest county in Texas?
No, Maverick County's poverty rate was 21.8% in 2024, 26th 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, Maverick County ranks 22nd of 254 in the state.
What is the population of Maverick County, Texas?
About 58,829 people in 2024, by the Bureau of Economic Analysis's count. The 2020 Census counted 57,887, the most of any census.
How is the County Distress Index calculated?
We rank every U.S. county on 14 federal measures of money trouble, grouped into five equally weighted parts, and average them. The published score is the share of the other 3,143 counties with a lower average. The methodology lists every measure and its source.
If you're behind on your mortgage in Maverick County
A U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development-approved housing counselor works at a nonprofit agency approved by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The counseling to avoid foreclosure is free, and a counselor can help you talk to your mortgage company and understand what it offers, according to the Consumer Financial Protection BureauSourceCFPB.
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Texas RioGrande Legal Aid
Legal aid
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Lone Star Legal Aid
Legal aid
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HUD-approved housing counselors
Counseling to avoid foreclosure is free. Our help directory lists 1,313 approved agencies 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 Maverick County · Every U.S. county (CSV)
Sources and method
- American Default Research · County Distress Index Data through Aug 2026, built from HUD Fair Market Rents and Census income; Census Bureau, American Community Survey; Urban Institute, Debt in America; U.S. Courts, Table F-5A; Equifax via the St. Louis Fed; Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates. Our methodology
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Economic Accounts (CAINC4) · income shares Where the money in Maverick County comes from, 2024.
- History The agencies named in each row and the linked records above.