Douglas County, Colorado

County Distress Index: Healthy · 28.6 | 383,906 people · 55th most distressed in Colorado
American Default Research

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Douglas County, CO ranks among the least distressed counties in the country at 28.6 — 2821st 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 55th of 64 counties. Among its 5 neighboring counties, 4 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Douglas County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 75.0 — worse than roughly 75% of U.S. counties.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 75.0
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 90
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 73
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 93
Homeownership Rate 30
Legal Distress 57.9
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 58
Economic Vitality 47.2
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 78
Rent-to-Income Ratio 14
Business Formation Rate 5
House Price Change (YoY) 75
Consumer Credit Distress 5.4
Debt in Collections 3
Medical Debt 7
Auto Loan Delinquency 7
Credit Card Delinquency 7
Uninsured Rate 5
Subprime Credit Population 5
Structural Poverty 5.0
Unemployment Rate 30
Poverty Rate 1
Income vs. State Median 1
Child Poverty Rate 1
Disability Rate 1
Transfer Income Dependency 1

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Douglas County
Douglas County, CO 28.6 Healthy —
Arapahoe County, CO 52.7 Elevated +24.1
El Paso County, CO 51.0 Elevated +22.4
Teller County, CO 39.4 Normal +10.8
Jefferson County, CO 37.7 Normal +9.2
Elbert County, CO 26.4 Healthy -2.1

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Douglas County
Chester County, PA 28.3 Healthy -0.2
Warren County, OH 27.7 Healthy -0.8
Morris County, NJ 27.4 Healthy -1.1
San Mateo County, CA 29.7 Healthy +1.2
Forsyth County, GA 29.8 Healthy +1.2

Download Data

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

Find Help in Douglas County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Douglas County.

DOUGLAS COUNTY HOUSING PARTNERSHIP
LONE TREE
303-784-7859 Website
Foreclosure PreventionFinancial CounselingPre-PurchaseHomebuyer Education

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 Douglas 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 Douglas County, Colorado?

    Douglas County has a County Distress Index score of 28.6 out of 100, placing it in the Healthy zone. It ranks 2,821st nationally out of 3,144 counties and 55th in Colorado out of 64 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Douglas County?

    The primary driver of distress in Douglas County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 75.0 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Douglas County compare to neighboring counties?

    Douglas County (28.6) can be compared to its 5 neighboring counties: Arapahoe County, CO (52.7); El Paso County, CO (51.0); Teller County, CO (39.4).

  • 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 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). Douglas County's score of 28.6 sits in the Healthy zone (below 46).

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

    Douglas 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 Douglas County?

    Douglas County, Colorado has a population of approximately 383,906 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a large county.