Arapahoe County, Colorado

County Distress Index: Elevated · 52.7 | 656,061 people · 12th most distressed in Colorado
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Arapahoe County, CO registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 52.7 — 1422nd nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Housing Cost Burden, where a large share of households spend more than 30% of income on housing. Within Colorado, it ranks 12th of 64 counties. Among its 7 neighboring counties, 6 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Arapahoe County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 92.1 — worse than roughly 92% of U.S. counties.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 92.1
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 97
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 90
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 93
Homeownership Rate 84
Economic Vitality 66.2
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 77
Rent-to-Income Ratio 83
Business Formation Rate 1
House Price Change (YoY) 88
Legal Distress 65.6
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 66
Consumer Credit Distress 40.1
Debt in Collections 36
Medical Debt 7
Auto Loan Delinquency 43
Credit Card Delinquency 54
Uninsured Rate 58
Subprime Credit Population 46
Structural Poverty 16.1
Unemployment Rate 41
Poverty Rate 21
Income vs. State Median 9
Child Poverty Rate 26
Disability Rate 8
Transfer Income Dependency 4

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Arapahoe County
Arapahoe County, CO 52.7 Elevated —
Adams County, CO 60.3 Elevated +7.6
Denver County, CO 49.7 Normal -3.0
Lincoln County, CO 44.7 Normal -7.9
Jefferson County, CO 37.7 Normal -14.9
Washington County, CO 34.4 Healthy -18.3
Douglas County, CO 28.6 Healthy -24.1
Elbert County, CO 26.4 Healthy -26.3

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Arapahoe County
Stark County, OH 52.8 Elevated +0.1
Baldwin County, AL 52.8 Elevated +0.2
Gloucester County, NJ 53.0 Elevated +0.3
Northampton County, PA 53.0 Elevated +0.4
Madison County, AL 52.3 Elevated -0.4

Download Data

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

Find Help in Arapahoe County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Arapahoe County.

NSC (NACA COUNSELING SUBSIDIARY) - DENVER, CO
AURORA
303-694-5437 Website
Foreclosure PreventionFinancial CounselingFair HousingPost-Purchase

See all counselors in Colorado →

Find an Attorney

Colorado Bar Association — Lawyer Referral Service offers a lawyer referral service for bankruptcy, foreclosure defense, and consumer rights.

Colorado Bar Association — Lawyer Referral Service 303-831-8000

Free Legal Aid

Legal aid organizations serving Arapahoe County residents at no cost.

Colorado Legal Services 303-837-1313 (Denver); 1-866-529-6257 (statewide)
Colorado Volunteer Lawyer Resource (CVLR) 303-722-0300
Colorado Bar Association — Lawyer Referral Service 303-831-8000 (Denver); 1-800-332-6736 (statewide)

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

Need legal help? Find a foreclosure defense attorney in Colorado →

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the distress score for Arapahoe County, Colorado?

    Arapahoe County has a County Distress Index score of 52.7 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 1,422nd nationally out of 3,144 counties and 12th in Colorado out of 64 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Arapahoe County?

    The primary driver of distress in Arapahoe County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 92.1 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Arapahoe County compare to neighboring counties?

    Arapahoe County (52.7) can be compared to its 7 neighboring counties: Adams County, CO (60.3); Denver County, CO (49.7); Lincoln County, CO (44.7).

  • 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). Arapahoe County's score of 52.7 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Arapahoe 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 Arapahoe County?

    Arapahoe County, Colorado has a population of approximately 656,061 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a large county.