Montezuma County, Colorado

County Distress Index: Elevated · 53.6 | 26,531 people · 11th most distressed in Colorado
American Default Research

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Montezuma County, CO registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 53.6 — 1366th 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 11th of 64 counties. Among its 6 neighboring counties, 4 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Montezuma County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 68.4 — above the national median.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 68.4
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 96
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 56
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 47
Homeownership Rate 48
Economic Vitality 67.5
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 82
Rent-to-Income Ratio 69
Business Formation Rate 19
House Price Change (YoY) 83
Structural Poverty 66.4
Unemployment Rate 74
Poverty Rate 54
Income vs. State Median 87
Child Poverty Rate 67
Disability Rate 44
Transfer Income Dependency 65
Consumer Credit Distress 47.1
Debt in Collections 39
Medical Debt 7
Auto Loan Delinquency 88
Credit Card Delinquency 37
Uninsured Rate 74
Subprime Credit Population 45
Legal Distress 9.2
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 9

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Montezuma County
Montezuma County, CO 53.6 Elevated —
Apache County, AZ 64.5 Elevated +11.0
San Juan County, NM 63.7 Elevated +10.1
San Juan County, UT 51.9 Elevated -1.6
San Juan County, CO 41.3 Normal -12.3
La Plata County, CO 36.4 Normal -17.1
Dolores County, CO 33.7 Healthy -19.9

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Montezuma County
Carroll County, VA 53.6 Elevated +0.0
Siskiyou County, CA 53.6 Elevated +0.0
Smith County, MS 53.5 Elevated -0.1
Manassas city, VA 53.5 Elevated -0.1
Pendleton County, KY 53.7 Elevated +0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Montezuma 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 Montezuma 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.

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the distress score for Montezuma County, Colorado?

    Montezuma County has a County Distress Index score of 53.6 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 1,366th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 11th in Colorado out of 64 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Montezuma County?

    The primary driver of distress in Montezuma County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 68.4 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Montezuma County compare to neighboring counties?

    Montezuma County (53.6) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Apache County, AZ (64.5); San Juan County, NM (63.7); San Juan County, UT (51.9).

  • 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 Elevated 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). Montezuma County's score of 53.6 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Montezuma 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 Montezuma County?

    Montezuma County, Colorado has a population of approximately 26,531 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.