Unemployment in Sutton County, Texas, is higher than in 94% of U.S. counties
In Sutton County, 6.2% of the labor force was out of work, on average. That is higher than in 94% of U.S. counties.
More distressed than 54% of U.S. counties.
What drives Sutton County's score
In Sutton County, jobs weigh most: the score for jobs is 71.2. Late payments on loans come next, at 71.0.
The County Distress Index looks at five parts of household money trouble in Sutton 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.
Sutton County does better than most counties on two measures: people with a disability (12.2%, 2020 to 2024) and rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income (17.9%, fiscal year 2027).
A longer bar means more trouble. See how the county score works.
- 71.2 of 100
Jobs
Biggest factorUnemployment through Sep 2026; adults not working, 2020–24 Census survey
- Unemployment rate, average over the latest year6.2% · Oct 2025 to Sep 202693rd percentile
- Adults 25 to 54 not working20.5% · 2020 to 202448th percentile
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- 71.0 of 100
Late payments
Credit records, August 2025; credit scores, second quarter of 2026
- People with a credit card behind6.6% · August 202567th 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 score47.0% · second quarter of 202672nd percentile
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- 47.1 of 100
Income and safety net
Poverty and income, 2024; disability and insurance, 2020–24 Census survey
- People below the poverty line12.3% · 202442nd percentile
- Children below the poverty line17.1% · 202450th percentile
- People with a disability12.2% · 2020 to 202416th percentile
- People without health insurance15.8% · 2020 to 202491st percentile
- Median household income (lower income, longer bar)$72,161 · 202435th percentile
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- 44.8 of 100
Collections and bankruptcy
Credit records, August 2025; bankruptcy filings, 2025
- People with unpaid debt sent to a collector27.3% · August 202564th percentile
- Bankruptcy filings per 100,000 peoplenot published for this county; scored at the state median · 202524th percentile
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- 29.2 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 rent16.1% · 2020 to 202437th percentile
- Rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income17.9% · fiscal year 202720th 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 Sutton 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 Sutton County, 19.3% of residents are 65 or older (Census Bureau, 2024), against 17.2% nationally that year.
Cents of every dollar of income, 2024
Sutton County
Texas
United States
- Pay from work
- Investments and rent
- Benefit checks
Benefit checks' share of income in Sutton County had its largest rise, from 9.9% in 2014 to 18.2% in 2019.
In Sutton County, benefit checks' share of income has tripled since 1969, reaching 24.2% in 2024, but pay from work still brings in twice as much as benefit checks
In Sutton County, Texas, benefit checks' share of income tripled from 1969 to 2024, reaching 24.2%; pay from work is plotted alongside. Every fifth year and 2024 are shown.
- Benefit checks
- Pay from work
The share of households in Sutton County getting SNAP food aid had its largest drop, from 9.1% in 2022 to 5.7% in 2023.
The share of households in Sutton County getting SNAP food aid was at its highest on the chart in 2020 and has since fallen by about a third
Low on the chart: 5.5% in 2018. Households getting SNAP, every year; each bar is a five-year survey estimate ending that year, so neighboring bars share most of their data, Sutton County, Texas.
How Sutton County has changed
Sutton County's population had its largest drop, from 5,674 in 1984 to 4,146 in 1989.
Sutton County's population was at its highest on the chart in 1984 and is down 42% since
High on the chart: 5,674 in 1984. Residents, yearly estimate, every fifth year and 2024, Sutton County, Texas.
The number of jobs located in Sutton County had its largest drop, from 2,100 in 2015 to 1,394 in 2020.
The number of jobs located in Sutton County was at its highest on the chart in 2010 and has since fallen by about half
High on the chart: 2,279 in 2010. Yearly average of jobs covered by unemployment insurance, every fifth year and 2025, Sutton County, Texas.
| Measure | Then | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rateBLS LAUS | 1990 5.0% | 2025 5.9% |
| People below the poverty lineCensus SAIPE | 1989 15.9% | 2024 12.3% |
| Median household incomeCensus SAIPE | 1989 $26,348 | 2024 $72,161 |
The table uses 5.9% for 2025; the score uses 6.2% 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 Sutton County's history
1980
The county's largest recorded population was the 1980 Census count of 5,130. The 2020 Census counted 3,372, 66% of the peak. Census Bureau
2002
A flash flood in October 2002 did $5 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2002
A flash flood in October 2002 did $3 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2018
A flash flood in September 2018 did $8 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
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Since 1993
17 federal disaster and emergency declarations have covered Sutton County, 3 of them for flooding. FEMA
Sutton County beside its neighbors
Of the five counties that border Sutton County, two score higher. For the share of income from benefit checks, Sutton County ranks 5th of the six; Edwards County is highest, at 32.9%.
| County | Score | Poverty | Benefit checks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Val Verde County, TX | 74 | 18.1% | 26.7% |
| Schleicher County, TX | 67 | 15.4% | 27.1% |
| Sutton County, TX | 54 | 12.3% | 24.2% |
| Edwards County, TX | 53 | 19.2% | 32.9% |
| Kimble County, TX | 45 | 15.4% | 31.3% |
| Crockett County, TX | 33 | 14.7% | 23.8% |
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 Sutton County the poorest county in Texas?
No, Sutton County's poverty rate was 12.3% in 2024, 184th 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, Sutton County ranks 165th of 254 in the state.
If you're behind on your mortgage in Sutton 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.
Download the CSV for Sutton 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 Sutton County comes from, 2024.
- History The agencies named in each row and the linked records above.