Boulder County, Colorado

County Distress Index: Healthy · 34.0 | 326,831 people · 43rd most distressed in Colorado
American Default Research

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Boulder County, CO ranks among the least distressed counties in the country at 34.0 — 2519th 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 43rd of 64 counties. Among its 6 neighboring counties, 4 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Boulder County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 95.2 — worse than roughly 95% of U.S. counties.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 95.2
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 99
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 99
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 80
Homeownership Rate 89
Economic Vitality 60.1
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 62
Rent-to-Income Ratio 86
Business Formation Rate 1
House Price Change (YoY) 88
Legal Distress 34.7
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 35
Structural Poverty 12.1
Unemployment Rate 38
Poverty Rate 29
Income vs. State Median 9
Child Poverty Rate 4
Disability Rate 1
Transfer Income Dependency 1
Consumer Credit Distress 6.5
Debt in Collections 4
Medical Debt 7
Auto Loan Delinquency 11
Credit Card Delinquency 6
Uninsured Rate 11
Subprime Credit Population 4

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Boulder County
Boulder County, CO 34.0 Healthy —
Weld County, CO 50.4 Elevated +16.3
Larimer County, CO 40.7 Normal +6.7
Jefferson County, CO 37.7 Normal +3.7
Gilpin County, CO 35.5 Normal +1.5
Grand County, CO 31.7 Healthy -2.3
Broomfield County, CO 29.9 Healthy -4.1

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Boulder County
Benton County, AR 34.2 Healthy +0.1
Howard County, MD 34.2 Healthy +0.2
Somerset County, NJ 33.7 Healthy -0.4
Bucks County, PA 34.7 Healthy +0.7
Brown County, WI 33.1 Healthy -0.9

Download Data

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

Find Help in Boulder County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Boulder County.

BOULDER COUNTY HOUSING & HUMAN SERVICES, AKA BOULDER COUNTY PERSONAL FINANCE PROGRAM
Longmont
720-564-2279 Website
Foreclosure PreventionFinancial CounselingHome Improvement/RehabHomeless/Displacement
OWEESTA CORPORATION
Longmont
303-774-8838 Website

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 Boulder 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 Boulder County, Colorado?

    Boulder County has a County Distress Index score of 34.0 out of 100, placing it in the Healthy zone. It ranks 2,519th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 43rd in Colorado out of 64 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Boulder County?

    The primary driver of distress in Boulder County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 95.2 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Boulder County compare to neighboring counties?

    Boulder County (34.0) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Weld County, CO (50.4); Larimer County, CO (40.7); Jefferson County, CO (37.7).

  • 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 Healthy 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). Boulder County's score of 34.0 sits in the Healthy zone (below 46).

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

    Boulder 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 Boulder County?

    Boulder County, Colorado has a population of approximately 326,831 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a large county.