Summit County, Colorado

County Distress Index: Healthy · 27.9 | 30,465 people · 59th most distressed in Colorado
American Default Research

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Summit County, CO ranks among the least distressed counties in the country at 27.9 — 2852nd nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Economic Vitality, where wages are low relative to housing costs, business formation lags, and the local economy lacks dynamism. Within Colorado, it ranks 59th of 64 counties. It scores lower than all 5 of its neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Summit County's primary driver is Economic Vitality at 77.5 — worse than roughly 78% of U.S. counties.

Economic Vitality Primary driver 77.5
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 99
Rent-to-Income Ratio 92
Business Formation Rate 1
House Price Change (YoY) 75
Housing Cost Burden 66.9
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 66
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 60
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 84
Homeownership Rate 73
Legal Distress 10.7
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 11
Consumer Credit Distress 9.8
Debt in Collections 1
Medical Debt 7
Auto Loan Delinquency 6
Credit Card Delinquency 4
Uninsured Rate 66
Subprime Credit Population 7
Structural Poverty 3.3
Unemployment Rate 4
Poverty Rate 5
Income vs. State Median 5
Child Poverty Rate 3
Disability Rate 1
Transfer Income Dependency 1

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Summit County
Summit County, CO 27.9 Healthy —
Lake County, CO 42.1 Normal +14.2
Clear Creek County, CO 37.5 Normal +9.5
Eagle County, CO 34.4 Healthy +6.5
Grand County, CO 31.7 Healthy +3.8
Park County, CO 29.7 Healthy +1.8

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Summit County
Roseau County, MN 27.9 Healthy 0.0
Taylor County, WI 27.9 Healthy -0.1
Union County, PA 27.8 Healthy -0.1
Bayfield County, WI 28.0 Healthy +0.1
Hamilton County, IA 28.1 Healthy +0.2

Download Data

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

Find Help in Summit 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 Summit 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 Summit County, Colorado?

    Summit County has a County Distress Index score of 27.9 out of 100, placing it in the Healthy zone. It ranks 2,852nd nationally out of 3,144 counties and 59th in Colorado out of 64 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Summit County?

    The primary driver of distress in Summit County is Economic Vitality, where the county scores 77.5 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Wage-to-Rent Ratio, Rent-to-Income Ratio, Business Formation Rate.

  • How does Summit County compare to neighboring counties?

    Summit County (27.9) can be compared to its 5 neighboring counties: Lake County, CO (42.1); Clear Creek County, CO (37.5); Eagle County, CO (34.4).

  • 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 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). Summit County's score of 27.9 sits in the Healthy zone (below 46).

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

    Summit 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 Summit County?

    Summit County, Colorado has a population of approximately 30,465 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.