Weld County, Colorado

County Distress Index: Elevated · 50.4 | 359,442 people · 14th most distressed in Colorado
American Default Research

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Weld County, CO registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 50.4 — 1553rd 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 14th of 64 counties. Among its 8 neighboring counties, 7 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Weld County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 85.9 — worse than roughly 86% of U.S. counties.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 85.9
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 96
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 90
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 99
Homeownership Rate 44
Legal Distress 75.6
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 76
Economic Vitality 55.3
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 72
Rent-to-Income Ratio 46
Business Formation Rate 11
House Price Change (YoY) 82
Consumer Credit Distress 38.4
Debt in Collections 35
Medical Debt 7
Auto Loan Delinquency 36
Credit Card Delinquency 52
Uninsured Rate 54
Subprime Credit Population 48
Structural Poverty 17.1
Unemployment Rate 58
Poverty Rate 13
Income vs. State Median 14
Child Poverty Rate 10
Disability Rate 11
Transfer Income Dependency 7

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Weld County
Weld County, CO 50.4 Elevated —
Adams County, CO 60.3 Elevated +9.9
Laramie County, WY 49.0 Normal -1.4
Morgan County, CO 48.9 Normal -1.5
Kimball County, NE 47.2 Normal -3.2
Logan County, CO 44.4 Normal -6.0
Larimer County, CO 40.7 Normal -9.6
Boulder County, CO 34.0 Healthy -16.3
Broomfield County, CO 29.9 Healthy -20.4

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Weld County
Multnomah County, OR 50.4 Elevated +0.0
Monroe County, NY 50.2 Elevated -0.1
Suffolk County, MA 50.5 Elevated +0.2
Richmond County, NY 50.1 Elevated -0.2
Collier County, FL 49.8 Normal -0.5

Download Data

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

Find Help in Weld 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 Weld 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 Weld County, Colorado?

    Weld County has a County Distress Index score of 50.4 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 1,553rd nationally out of 3,144 counties and 14th in Colorado out of 64 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Weld County?

    The primary driver of distress in Weld County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 85.9 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Weld County compare to neighboring counties?

    Weld County (50.4) can be compared to its 8 neighboring counties: Adams County, CO (60.3); Laramie County, WY (49.0); Morgan County, CO (48.9).

  • 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). Weld County's score of 50.4 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Weld 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 Weld County?

    Weld County, Colorado has a population of approximately 359,442 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a large county.