Garfield County, Utah

County Distress Index: Healthy · 31.4 | 5,314 people · 19th most distressed in Utah
American Default Research

Behind on your mortgage or facing eviction? Take a 2-minute assessment to see your options.

Garfield County, UT ranks among the least distressed counties in the country at 31.4 — 2677th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Structural Poverty, where income and poverty levels indicate moderate economic strain. Within Utah, it ranks 19th of 29 counties. Among its 6 neighboring counties, 4 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Garfield County's primary driver is Structural Poverty at 51.1 — above the national median.

Structural Poverty Primary driver 51.1
Unemployment Rate 95
Poverty Rate 21
Income vs. State Median 82
Child Poverty Rate 35
Disability Rate 30
Transfer Income Dependency 40
Economic Vitality 46.4
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 72
Rent-to-Income Ratio 21
Business Formation Rate 10
House Price Change (YoY) 62
Legal Distress 32.9
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 33
Consumer Credit Distress 26.1
Debt in Collections 21
Medical Debt 19
Auto Loan Delinquency 15
Credit Card Delinquency 53
Uninsured Rate 78
Subprime Credit Population 5
Housing Cost Burden 24.2
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 22
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 6
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 48
Homeownership Rate 55

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Garfield County
Garfield County, UT 31.4 Healthy —
San Juan County, UT 51.9 Elevated +20.5
Iron County, UT 41.0 Normal +9.5
Kane County, UT 33.7 Healthy +2.3
Piute County, UT 32.3 Healthy +0.8
Beaver County, UT 27.8 Healthy -3.6
Wayne County, UT 26.0 Healthy -5.4

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Garfield County
Pipestone County, MN 31.4 Healthy -0.0
Arthur County, NE 31.4 Healthy -0.0
Knox County, MO 31.4 Healthy -0.0
Clark County, KS 31.4 Healthy -0.1
Moody County, SD 31.4 Healthy -0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Garfield County

Find an Attorney

Utah State Bar Lawyer Referral Service offers a lawyer referral service for bankruptcy, foreclosure defense, and consumer rights.

Utah State Bar Lawyer Referral Service 801-531-9077

Free Legal Aid

Legal aid organizations serving Garfield County residents at no cost.

Utah Legal Services 1-800-662-4245
Legal Aid Society of Salt Lake 801-328-8849

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 Utah →

Continue Reading

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the distress score for Garfield County, Utah?

    Garfield County has a County Distress Index score of 31.4 out of 100, placing it in the Healthy zone. It ranks 2,677th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 19th in Utah out of 29 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Garfield County?

    The primary driver of distress in Garfield County is Structural Poverty, where the county scores 51.1 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Unemployment Rate, Poverty Rate, Income vs. State Median.

  • How does Garfield County compare to neighboring counties?

    Garfield County (31.4) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: San Juan County, UT (51.9); Iron County, UT (41.0); Kane County, UT (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). Garfield County's score of 31.4 sits in the Healthy zone (below 46).

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

    Garfield 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 Garfield County?

    Garfield County, Utah has a population of approximately 5,314 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a tiny county.