Gunnison County, Colorado

County Distress Index: Healthy · 32.4 | 17,321 people · 48th most distressed in Colorado
American Default Research

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

Gunnison County, CO ranks among the least distressed counties in the country at 32.4 — 2627th 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 48th of 64 counties. Among its 8 neighboring counties, 5 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Gunnison County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 90.2 — worse than roughly 90% of U.S. counties.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 90.2
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 92
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 95
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 84
Homeownership Rate 80
Economic Vitality 49.3
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 79
Rent-to-Income Ratio 40
Business Formation Rate 5
House Price Change (YoY) 12
Structural Poverty 15.7
Unemployment Rate 19
Poverty Rate 26
Income vs. State Median 30
Child Poverty Rate 8
Disability Rate 5
Transfer Income Dependency 5
Consumer Credit Distress 11.0
Debt in Collections 5
Medical Debt 7
Auto Loan Delinquency 5
Credit Card Delinquency 27
Uninsured Rate 31
Subprime Credit Population 5
Legal Distress 5.0
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 5

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Gunnison County
Gunnison County, CO 32.4 Healthy —
Delta County, CO 49.2 Normal +16.9
Saguache County, CO 47.9 Normal +15.5
Mesa County, CO 46.1 Normal +13.7
Montrose County, CO 41.5 Normal +9.1
Chaffee County, CO 32.8 Healthy +0.4
Ouray County, CO 30.4 Healthy -1.9
Hinsdale County, CO 28.1 Healthy -4.3
Pitkin County, CO 27.0 Healthy -5.4

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Gunnison County
Whitley County, IN 32.3 Healthy -0.0
Benzie County, MI 32.3 Healthy -0.0
Nantucket County, MA 32.3 Healthy -0.0
Henry County, OH 32.5 Healthy +0.1
Rockbridge County, VA 32.5 Healthy +0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Gunnison 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 Gunnison 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 Gunnison County, Colorado?

    Gunnison County has a County Distress Index score of 32.4 out of 100, placing it in the Healthy zone. It ranks 2,627th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 48th in Colorado out of 64 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Gunnison County?

    The primary driver of distress in Gunnison County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 90.2 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Gunnison County compare to neighboring counties?

    Gunnison County (32.4) can be compared to its 8 neighboring counties: Delta County, CO (49.2); Saguache County, CO (47.9); Mesa County, CO (46.1).

  • 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). Gunnison County's score of 32.4 sits in the Healthy zone (below 46).

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

    Gunnison 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 Gunnison County?

    Gunnison County, Colorado has a population of approximately 17,321 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.