Phillips County, Colorado

County Distress Index: Healthy · 28.1 | 4,476 people · 57th most distressed in Colorado
American Default Research

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Phillips County, CO ranks among the least distressed counties in the country at 28.1 — 2842nd nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Economic Vitality, where employment and wage conditions show moderate stress. Within Colorado, it ranks 57th of 64 counties. Among its 5 neighboring counties, 3 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Phillips County's primary driver is Economic Vitality at 49.6 — above the national median.

Economic Vitality Primary driver 49.6
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 53
Rent-to-Income Ratio 52
Business Formation Rate 14
House Price Change (YoY) 95
Structural Poverty 47.9
Unemployment Rate 5
Poverty Rate 38
Income vs. State Median 89
Child Poverty Rate 41
Disability Rate 27
Transfer Income Dependency 56
Housing Cost Burden 35.4
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 27
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 21
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 95
Homeownership Rate 47
Legal Distress 18.2
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 18
Consumer Credit Distress 16.4
Debt in Collections 20
Medical Debt 7
Auto Loan Delinquency 5
Credit Card Delinquency 11
Uninsured Rate 24
Subprime Credit Population 30

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Phillips County
Phillips County, CO 28.1 Healthy —
Sedgwick County, CO 57.0 Elevated +28.8
Logan County, CO 44.4 Normal +16.3
Yuma County, CO 33.7 Healthy +5.5
Chase County, NE 26.0 Healthy -2.1
Perkins County, NE 23.3 Healthy -4.9

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Phillips County
Shelby County, MO 28.2 Healthy +0.0
Hinsdale County, CO 28.1 Healthy -0.1
Sanborn County, SD 28.0 Healthy -0.1
Stanton County, KS 28.0 Healthy -0.1
Rawlins County, KS 28.3 Healthy +0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Phillips 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 Phillips 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 Phillips County, Colorado?

    Phillips County has a County Distress Index score of 28.1 out of 100, placing it in the Healthy zone. It ranks 2,842nd nationally out of 3,144 counties and 57th in Colorado out of 64 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Phillips County?

    The primary driver of distress in Phillips County is Economic Vitality, where the county scores 49.6 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Wage-to-Rent Ratio, Rent-to-Income Ratio, Business Formation Rate.

  • How does Phillips County compare to neighboring counties?

    Phillips County (28.1) can be compared to its 5 neighboring counties: Sedgwick County, CO (57.0); Logan County, CO (44.4); Yuma County, CO (33.7).

  • 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 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). Phillips County's score of 28.1 sits in the Healthy zone (below 46).

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

    Phillips 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 Phillips County?

    Phillips County, Colorado has a population of approximately 4,476 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a tiny county.