Gila County, Arizona

County Distress Index: Elevated · 64.7 | 54,003 people · 3rd most distressed in Arizona
American Default Research

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Gila County, AZ registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 64.7 — 658th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Economic Vitality, where wages are low relative to housing costs, business formation lags, and the local economy lacks dynamism. Within Arizona, it ranks 3rd of 15 counties. Among its 6 neighboring counties, 5 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Gila County's primary driver is Economic Vitality at 83.7 — worse than roughly 84% of U.S. counties.

Economic Vitality Primary driver 83.7
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 84
Rent-to-Income Ratio 97
Business Formation Rate 60
House Price Change (YoY) 90
Structural Poverty 80.5
Unemployment Rate 55
Poverty Rate 77
Income vs. State Median 72
Child Poverty Rate 87
Disability Rate 89
Transfer Income Dependency 96
Consumer Credit Distress 63.0
Debt in Collections 64
Medical Debt 69
Auto Loan Delinquency 72
Credit Card Delinquency 69
Uninsured Rate 65
Subprime Credit Population 45
Housing Cost Burden 61.1
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 60
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 75
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 55
Homeownership Rate 34
Legal Distress 33.2
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 33

Scores are percentile-based: 50 = national median, higher = more distressed.

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Gila County
Gila County, AZ 64.7 Elevated —
Navajo County, AZ 65.2 Serious +0.5
Coconino County, AZ 63.2 Elevated -1.5
Pinal County, AZ 62.9 Elevated -1.8
Maricopa County, AZ 60.7 Elevated -4.0
Graham County, AZ 50.0 Normal -14.7
Yavapai County, AZ 47.9 Normal -16.8

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Gila County
Bay County, FL 64.7 Elevated +0.0
Kershaw County, SC 64.7 Elevated -0.0
Mohave County, AZ 64.7 Elevated -0.0
Payne County, OK 64.6 Elevated -0.1
Jackson County, MS 64.6 Elevated -0.1

Download Data

Export all distress indicators for Gila County as a CSV file.

Find Help in Gila County

Find an Attorney

State Bar of Arizona — Lawyer Referral Service offers a lawyer referral service for bankruptcy, foreclosure defense, and consumer rights.

State Bar of Arizona — Lawyer Referral Service 602-252-4804

Free Legal Aid

Legal aid organizations serving Gila County residents at no cost.

Community Legal Services (CLS) — Central and Northern Arizona 602-258-3434
Southern Arizona Legal Aid (SALA) 520-623-9465
DNA People's Legal Services 928-871-4151
Three Rivers Legal Services 602-258-3434
Community Legal Services, Inc. (800) 852-9075

American Default Research does not endorse, rate, or rank any provider. Verify attorney credentials with your state bar.

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the distress score for Gila County, Arizona?

    Gila County has a County Distress Index score of 64.7 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 658th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 3rd in Arizona out of 15 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Gila County?

    The primary driver of distress in Gila County is Economic Vitality, where the county scores 83.7 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Wage-to-Rent Ratio, Rent-to-Income Ratio, Business Formation Rate.

  • How does Gila County compare to neighboring counties?

    Gila County (64.7) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Navajo County, AZ (65.2); Coconino County, AZ (63.2); Pinal County, AZ (62.9).

  • How is the County Distress Index calculated?

    The County Distress Index uses PCA-weighted percentile scoring across five statistically derived factors: Consumer Credit Distress (47.5%), Housing Cost Burden (22.3%), Structural Poverty (13.6%), Economic Vitality (9.2%), and Legal Distress (7.4%). Each county's indicators are ranked against all 3,144 U.S. counties. A score of 50 means the county is at the national median; higher scores indicate greater distress.

  • How often is the CDI updated?

    Annually, aligned to Census American Community Survey and Urban Institute Debt in America release windows — the slowest-moving source inputs. Between annual refreshes, faster-cadence indicators (BLS unemployment, QCEW wages) may drive light mid-year updates if a specific component moves meaningfully. Current data compiled April 14, 2026; next full refresh early 2027.

  • What does the Elevated zone mean?

    The CDI divides counties into five zones: Healthy (below 46), Normal (46–55), Elevated (55–71), Serious (71–86), and Crisis (86 and above). Gila County's score of 64.7 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

  • What data sources power Gila County's CDI score?

    Gila County's CDI score draws on Urban Institute Debt in America (Equifax credit-bureau panel), U.S. Census Bureau (American Community Survey 5-year, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates), Bureau of Labor Statistics (LAUS, QCEW), U.S. Courts Administrative Office (F-5A bankruptcy filings), and HUD Fair Market Rents. Every number on this page traces to one of these public sources.

  • What is the population of Gila County?

    Gila County, Arizona has a population of approximately 54,003 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.