Custer County, Colorado

County Distress Index: Healthy · 26.7 | 5,534 people · 61st most distressed in Colorado
American Default Research

Behind on your mortgage or facing eviction? Take a 2-minute assessment to see your options.

Custer County, CO ranks among the least distressed counties in the country at 26.7 — 2909th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Economic Vitality, where employment and wage conditions show moderate stress. Within Colorado, it ranks 61st of 64 counties. It scores lower than all 4 of its neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Custer County's primary driver is Economic Vitality at 49.9 — above the national median.

Economic Vitality Primary driver 49.9
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 80
Rent-to-Income Ratio 14
Business Formation Rate 5
House Price Change (YoY) 95
Structural Poverty 49.1
Unemployment Rate 41
Poverty Rate 36
Income vs. State Median 37
Child Poverty Rate 71
Disability Rate 33
Transfer Income Dependency 71
Housing Cost Burden 46.9
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 31
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 67
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 95
Homeownership Rate 5
Legal Distress 11.3
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 11
Consumer Credit Distress 8.6
Debt in Collections 5
Medical Debt 7
Auto Loan Delinquency 5
Credit Card Delinquency 5
Uninsured Rate 47
Subprime Credit Population 5

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Custer County
Custer County, CO 26.7 Healthy —
Pueblo County, CO 67.7 Serious +41.0
Fremont County, CO 50.0 Elevated +23.3
Huerfano County, CO 47.9 Normal +21.2
Saguache County, CO 47.9 Normal +21.2

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Custer County
McCone County, MT 26.7 Healthy +0.0
Republic County, KS 26.7 Healthy +0.0
Golden Valley County, ND 26.7 Healthy +0.0
Meagher County, MT 26.7 Healthy +0.1
Butler County, NE 26.8 Healthy +0.2

Download Data

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

Find Help in Custer County

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 Custer 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 →

Continue Reading

Frequently Asked Questions

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

    Custer County has a County Distress Index score of 26.7 out of 100, placing it in the Healthy zone. It ranks 2,909th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 61st in Colorado out of 64 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Custer County?

    The primary driver of distress in Custer County is Economic Vitality, where the county scores 49.9 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Wage-to-Rent Ratio, Rent-to-Income Ratio, Business Formation Rate.

  • How does Custer County compare to neighboring counties?

    Custer County (26.7) can be compared to its 4 neighboring counties: Pueblo County, CO (67.7); Fremont County, CO (50.0); Huerfano County, CO (47.9).

  • 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 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). Custer County's score of 26.7 sits in the Healthy zone (below 46).

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

    Custer 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 Custer County?

    Custer County, Colorado has a population of approximately 5,534 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a tiny county.