Delta County, Colorado

County Distress Index: Normal · 49.2 | 31,746 people · 17th most distressed in Colorado
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Delta County, CO falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 49.2 — 1625th 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 17th of 64 counties. It scores higher than all 3 of its neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Delta County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 79.4 — worse than roughly 79% of U.S. counties.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 79.4
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 92
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 81
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 90
Homeownership Rate 39
Structural Poverty 70.9
Unemployment Rate 76
Poverty Rate 45
Income vs. State Median 93
Child Poverty Rate 50
Disability Rate 76
Transfer Income Dependency 73
Economic Vitality 61.1
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 71
Rent-to-Income Ratio 70
Business Formation Rate 8
House Price Change (YoY) 89
Legal Distress 38.1
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 38
Consumer Credit Distress 28.3
Debt in Collections 19
Medical Debt 7
Auto Loan Delinquency 31
Credit Card Delinquency 43
Uninsured Rate 71
Subprime Credit Population 23

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Delta County
Delta County, CO 49.2 Normal —
Mesa County, CO 46.1 Normal -3.1
Montrose County, CO 41.5 Normal -7.8
Gunnison County, CO 32.4 Healthy -16.9

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Delta County
Ford County, KS 49.2 Normal -0.0
Barry County, MO 49.3 Normal +0.0
Grant County, AR 49.3 Normal +0.0
Otsego County, MI 49.2 Normal -0.1
King William County, VA 49.3 Normal +0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Delta 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 Delta 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.

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Frequently Asked Questions

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

    Delta County has a County Distress Index score of 49.2 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 1,625th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 17th in Colorado out of 64 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Delta County?

    The primary driver of distress in Delta County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 79.4 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Delta County compare to neighboring counties?

    Delta County (49.2) can be compared to its 3 neighboring counties: Mesa County, CO (46.1); Montrose County, CO (41.5); Gunnison County, CO (32.4).

  • 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 Normal 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). Delta County's score of 49.2 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Delta 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 Delta County?

    Delta County, Colorado has a population of approximately 31,746 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.