Denver County, Colorado

County Distress Index: Normal · 49.7 | 716,577 people · 16th most distressed in Colorado
American Default Research

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Denver County, CO falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 49.7 — 1592nd 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 16th of 64 counties. Among its 3 neighboring counties, 2 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Denver County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 81.7 — worse than roughly 82% of U.S. counties.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 81.7
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 81
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 72
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 91
Homeownership Rate 99
Legal Distress 61.3
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 61
Economic Vitality 53.9
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 47
Rent-to-Income Ratio 88
Business Formation Rate 1
House Price Change (YoY) 89
Consumer Credit Distress 41.0
Debt in Collections 37
Medical Debt 7
Auto Loan Delinquency 53
Credit Card Delinquency 48
Uninsured Rate 56
Subprime Credit Population 46
Structural Poverty 18.5
Unemployment Rate 55
Poverty Rate 24
Income vs. State Median 12
Child Poverty Rate 31
Disability Rate 5
Transfer Income Dependency 1

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Denver County
Denver County, CO 49.7 Normal —
Adams County, CO 60.3 Elevated +10.6
Arapahoe County, CO 52.7 Elevated +3.0
Jefferson County, CO 37.7 Normal -11.9

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Denver County
Williamson County, TX 49.7 Normal 0.0
Collier County, FL 49.8 Normal +0.1
Burlington County, NJ 49.4 Normal -0.3
Richmond County, NY 50.1 Elevated +0.5
Monroe County, NY 50.2 Elevated +0.6

Download Data

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

Find Help in Denver County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Denver County.

COLORADO HOUSING ASSISTANCE CORPORATION
Denver
303-572-9445 Website
Foreclosure PreventionPre-PurchaseHomebuyer Education
DENVER HOUSING AUTHORITY
Denver
720-956-3806 Website
Foreclosure PreventionMortgage HelpFinancial CounselingPost-Purchase
NEWSED CDC
Denver
036-534-8342 Website
Foreclosure PreventionFinancial CounselingHome Improvement/RehabPost-Purchase
NORTHEAST DENVER HOUSING CENTER
Denver
303-377-3334-229 Website
Foreclosure PreventionFinancial CounselingFinancial CounselingHome Improvement/Rehab
SOUTHWEST IMPROVEMENT COUNCIL
Denver
303-934-0923 Website
Foreclosure PreventionFinancial CounselingFair HousingPre-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 Denver 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 Denver County, Colorado?

    Denver County has a County Distress Index score of 49.7 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 1,592nd nationally out of 3,144 counties and 16th in Colorado out of 64 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Denver County?

    The primary driver of distress in Denver County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 81.7 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Denver County compare to neighboring counties?

    Denver County (49.7) can be compared to its 3 neighboring counties: Adams County, CO (60.3); Arapahoe County, CO (52.7); 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 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). Denver County's score of 49.7 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Denver 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 Denver County?

    Denver County, Colorado has a population of approximately 716,577 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a large county.