Mesa County, Colorado

County Distress Index: Normal · 46.1 | 159,681 people · 24th most distressed in Colorado
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Mesa County, CO falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 46.1 — 1837th 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 24th of 64 counties. Among its 7 neighboring counties, 4 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Mesa County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 76.4 — worse than roughly 76% of U.S. counties.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 76.4
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 81
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 77
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 82
Homeownership Rate 63
Economic Vitality 52.4
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 60
Rent-to-Income Ratio 64
Business Formation Rate 13
House Price Change (YoY) 57
Legal Distress 48.9
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 49
Structural Poverty 46.7
Unemployment Rate 49
Poverty Rate 37
Income vs. State Median 72
Child Poverty Rate 27
Disability Rate 45
Transfer Income Dependency 41
Consumer Credit Distress 30.0
Debt in Collections 30
Medical Debt 7
Auto Loan Delinquency 19
Credit Card Delinquency 39
Uninsured Rate 63
Subprime Credit Population 34

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Mesa County
Mesa County, CO 46.1 Normal —
Grand County, UT 53.3 Elevated +7.2
San Juan County, UT 51.9 Elevated +5.9
Delta County, CO 49.2 Normal +3.1
Montrose County, CO 41.5 Normal -4.6
Garfield County, CO 38.3 Normal -7.8
Gunnison County, CO 32.4 Healthy -13.7
Pitkin County, CO 27.0 Healthy -19.1

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Mesa County
Northumberland County, PA 46.0 Normal -0.0
Putnam County, WV 46.0 Normal -0.0
Columbia County, PA 46.0 Normal -0.1
Kent County, RI 46.0 Normal -0.1
Franklin County, WA 46.0 Normal -0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Mesa County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Mesa County.

HOUSING RESOURCES OF WESTERN COLORADO
Grand Junction
970-250-2585
Foreclosure PreventionMortgage HelpFinancial CounselingFinancial Counseling

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 Mesa 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 Mesa County, Colorado?

    Mesa County has a County Distress Index score of 46.1 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 1,837th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 24th in Colorado out of 64 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Mesa County?

    The primary driver of distress in Mesa County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 76.4 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Mesa County compare to neighboring counties?

    Mesa County (46.1) can be compared to its 7 neighboring counties: Grand County, UT (53.3); San Juan County, UT (51.9); Delta County, CO (49.2).

  • 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). Mesa County's score of 46.1 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Mesa 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 Mesa County?

    Mesa County, Colorado has a population of approximately 159,681 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.