About two in five people with a credit file in Newton County, Texas, have unpaid debt sent to a collector
In Newton County, 40.9% of people with a credit file had unpaid debt sent to a collector. That is higher than in 95% of U.S. counties.
More distressed than 81% of U.S. counties.
What drives Newton County's score
In Newton County, jobs weigh most: the score for jobs is 92.1. Late payments on loans come next, at 81.8.
The County Distress Index looks at five parts of household money trouble in Newton 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.
Newton County does better than most counties on two measures: bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people (49.8, 2025) and renters paying half their income or more in rent (9.9%, 2020 to 2024).
A longer bar means more trouble. See how the county score works.
- 92.1 of 100
Jobs
Biggest factorUnemployment through Sep 2026; adults not working, 2020–24 Census survey
- Unemployment rate, average over the latest year6.4% · Oct 2025 to Sep 2026top 5%
- Adults 25 to 54 not working29.8% · 2020 to 202489th percentile
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- 81.8 of 100
Late payments
Credit records, August 2025; credit scores, second quarter of 2026
- People with a credit card behind7.7% · August 202581st percentile
- People with a car or retail loan behind6.7% · August 202569th percentile
- People with a subprime credit score58.3% · second quarter of 202694th percentile
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- 79.7 of 100
Income and safety net
Poverty and income, 2024; disability and insurance, 2020–24 Census survey
- People below the poverty line17.5% · 202478th percentile
- Children below the poverty line25.2% · 202482nd percentile
- People with a disability17.2% · 2020 to 202460th percentile
- People without health insurance19.2% · 2020 to 2024top 5%
- Median household income (lower income, longer bar)$55,560 · 202481st percentile
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- 52.3 of 100
Collections and bankruptcy
Credit records, August 2025; bankruptcy filings, 2025
- People with unpaid debt sent to a collector40.9% · August 2025top 5%
- Bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people49.8 · 20259th percentile
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- 36.9 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 rent9.9% · 2020 to 202411th percentile
- Rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income21.9% · fiscal year 202761st 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 Newton 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 Newton County, 23.5% of residents are 65 or older (Census Bureau, 2024), against 17.2% nationally that year.
Cents of every dollar of income, 2024
Newton County
Texas
United States
- Pay from work
- Investments and rent
- Benefit checks
In Newton County, benefit checks' share of income has more than doubled since 1969, reaching 34.6% in 2024, but pay from work still brings in about one and a half times as much as benefit checks
In Newton County, Texas, benefit checks' share of income more than doubled from 1969 to 2024, reaching 34.6%; pay from work is plotted alongside. Every fifth year and 2024 are shown.
- Benefit checks
- Pay from work
The share of households in Newton County getting SNAP food aid had its largest drop, from 17.4% in 2013 to 13.9% in 2014.
The share of households in Newton County getting SNAP food aid fell by about a third from 2009 to 2024, reaching 14.2%, with its low point on the chart in 2022
Low on the chart: 12.9% in 2022. Households getting SNAP, every year; each bar is a five-year survey estimate ending that year, so neighboring bars share most of their data, Newton County, Texas.
How Newton County has changed
Newton County's population had its largest drop, from 13,753 in 2014 to 12,497 in 2019.
Newton County's population was at its highest on the chart in 1999 and has since fallen by about a fifth
High on the chart: 15,041 in 1999. Residents, yearly estimate, every fifth year and 2024, Newton County, Texas.
The number of jobs located in Newton County had its largest rise, from 1,823 in 1990 to 2,204 in 1995.
The number of jobs located in Newton County was at its highest on the chart in 2000 and has since fallen by about half
High on the chart: 2,239 in 2000. Yearly average of jobs covered by unemployment insurance, every fifth year and 2025, Newton County, Texas.
| Measure | Then | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rateBLS LAUS | 1990 9.5% | 2025 6.2% |
| People below the poverty lineCensus SAIPE | 1989 25.9% | 2024 17.5% |
| Median household incomeCensus SAIPE | 1989 $18,675 | 2024 $55,560 |
The table uses 6.2% for 2025; the score uses 6.4% 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 Newton County's history
1846
Founded in 1846. Wikipedia
2000
The county's largest recorded population was the 2000 Census count of 15,072. The 2020 Census counted 12,217, 81% of the peak. Census Bureau
2000
County courthouse severely damaged by fire August 2000, reopened December 2012. Wikipedia
2005
Hurricane Rita caused extensive damage September 2005 with wind gusts 80-100 mph. Wikipedia
2009
A flood in November 2009 did $2 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2016
A flash flood in March 2016 did $2.25 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2016
A flood in March 2016 did $86 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2017
A flash flood in August 2017 did $45 million in property damage and killed two people. NOAA Storm Events Database
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Since 1973
29 federal disaster and emergency declarations have covered Newton County, 7 of them for flooding. FEMA
Newton County beside its neighbors
Of the seven counties that border Newton County, in Texas and Louisiana, four score higher. For the share of income from benefit checks, Newton County ranks 3rd of the eight; Sabine County is highest, at 47.7%.
| County | Score | Poverty | Benefit checks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sabine Parish, LA | 86 | 21.0% | 34.8% |
| Calcasieu Parish, LA | 86 | 15.5% | 23.8% |
| Vernon Parish, LA | 82 | 15.7% | 27.3% |
| Orange County, TX | 82 | 13.8% | 26.4% |
| Newton County, TX | 81 | 17.5% | 34.6% |
| Jasper County, TX | 79 | 15.9% | 34.0% |
| Beauregard Parish, LA | 70 | 15.1% | 28.5% |
| Sabine County, TX | 67 | 15.9% | 47.7% |
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 Newton County the poorest county in Texas?
No, Newton County's poverty rate was 17.5% in 2024, 67th 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, Newton County ranks 60th of 254 in the state.
If you're behind on your mortgage in Newton 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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Lone Star 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.
Download the CSV for Newton 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 Newton County comes from, 2024.
- History The agencies named in each row and the linked records above.