Morgan County, Colorado

County Distress Index: Normal · 48.9 | 29,524 people · 18th most distressed in Colorado
American Default Research

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Morgan County, CO falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 48.9 — 1652nd nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Legal Distress, where bankruptcy filings are moderately elevated. Within Colorado, it ranks 18th of 64 counties. Its score is in the middle of its 4 neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Morgan County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 64.2 — above the national median.

Legal Distress Primary driver 64.2
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 64
Housing Cost Burden 56.2
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 44
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 52
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 70
Homeownership Rate 84
Consumer Credit Distress 47.5
Debt in Collections 43
Medical Debt 7
Auto Loan Delinquency 42
Credit Card Delinquency 70
Uninsured Rate 70
Subprime Credit Population 58
Economic Vitality 44.1
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 46
Rent-to-Income Ratio 43
Business Formation Rate 22
House Price Change (YoY) 85
Structural Poverty 36.6
Unemployment Rate 41
Poverty Rate 41
Income vs. State Median 66
Child Poverty Rate 35
Disability Rate 5
Transfer Income Dependency 24

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Morgan County
Morgan County, CO 48.9 Normal —
Adams County, CO 60.3 Elevated +11.4
Weld County, CO 50.4 Elevated +1.5
Logan County, CO 44.4 Normal -4.5
Washington County, CO 34.4 Healthy -14.5

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Morgan County
Clatsop County, OR 48.8 Normal -0.0
Logan County, IL 49.0 Normal +0.1
Dakota County, NE 48.8 Normal -0.1
Curry County, OR 49.0 Normal +0.1
Marshall County, KY 49.0 Normal +0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Morgan County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Morgan County.

NORTHEAST COLORADO HOUSING, INC.
Fort Morgan
970-542-1221 Website
Foreclosure PreventionFinancial CounselingHome Improvement/RehabPre-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 Morgan 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 Morgan County, Colorado?

    Morgan County has a County Distress Index score of 48.9 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 1,652nd nationally out of 3,144 counties and 18th in Colorado out of 64 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Morgan County?

    The primary driver of distress in Morgan County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 64.2 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Morgan County compare to neighboring counties?

    Morgan County (48.9) can be compared to its 4 neighboring counties: Adams County, CO (60.3); Weld County, CO (50.4); Logan County, CO (44.4).

  • 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 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). Morgan County's score of 48.9 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Morgan 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 Morgan County?

    Morgan County, Colorado has a population of approximately 29,524 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.