Jefferson County, Colorado

County Distress Index: Normal · 37.7 | 576,366 people · 37th most distressed in Colorado
American Default Research

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

Jefferson County, CO falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 37.7 — 2327th 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 37th of 64 counties. Among its 10 neighboring counties, 6 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Jefferson County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 86.7 — worse than roughly 87% of U.S. counties.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 86.7
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 94
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 87
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 91
Homeownership Rate 68
Economic Vitality 68.9
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 85
Rent-to-Income Ratio 78
Business Formation Rate 5
House Price Change (YoY) 84
Legal Distress 56.9
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 57
Consumer Credit Distress 13.8
Debt in Collections 12
Medical Debt 7
Auto Loan Delinquency 15
Credit Card Delinquency 20
Uninsured Rate 20
Subprime Credit Population 12
Structural Poverty 9.7
Unemployment Rate 38
Poverty Rate 5
Income vs. State Median 7
Child Poverty Rate 4
Disability Rate 8
Transfer Income Dependency 5

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Jefferson County
Jefferson County, CO 37.7 Normal —
Adams County, CO 60.3 Elevated +22.5
Arapahoe County, CO 52.7 Elevated +14.9
Denver County, CO 49.7 Normal +11.9
Teller County, CO 39.4 Normal +1.6
Clear Creek County, CO 37.5 Normal -0.3
Gilpin County, CO 35.5 Normal -2.2
Boulder County, CO 34.0 Healthy -3.7
Broomfield County, CO 29.9 Healthy -7.8
Park County, CO 29.7 Healthy -8.0
Douglas County, CO 28.6 Healthy -9.2

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Jefferson County
Westmoreland County, PA 38.1 Normal +0.3
Placer County, CA 37.4 Normal -0.4
Cumberland County, PA 38.2 Normal +0.4
Anoka County, MN 38.2 Normal +0.4
McHenry County, IL 37.1 Normal -0.6

Download Data

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

Find Help in Jefferson County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Jefferson County.

BROTHERS REDEVELOPMENT, INC.
Edgewater
303-202-6340 Website
Foreclosure PreventionFinancial CounselingHomeless/DisplacementPre-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 Jefferson 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 Jefferson County, Colorado?

    Jefferson County has a County Distress Index score of 37.7 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 2,327th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 37th in Colorado out of 64 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Jefferson County?

    The primary driver of distress in Jefferson County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 86.7 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Jefferson County compare to neighboring counties?

    Jefferson County (37.7) can be compared to its 10 neighboring counties: Adams County, CO (60.3); Arapahoe County, CO (52.7); Denver County, CO (49.7).

  • 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). Jefferson County's score of 37.7 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Jefferson 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 Jefferson County?

    Jefferson County, Colorado has a population of approximately 576,366 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a large county.