Iron County, Utah

County Distress Index: Normal · 41.0 | 64,211 people · 8th most distressed in Utah
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Iron County, UT falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 41.0 — 2129th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Housing Cost Burden, where housing costs consume a moderate share of household income. Within Utah, it ranks 8th of 29 counties. Among its 5 neighboring counties, 3 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Iron County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 62.0 — above the national median.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 62.0
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 71
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 37
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 92
Homeownership Rate 79
Legal Distress 61.7
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 62
Economic Vitality 45.5
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 70
Rent-to-Income Ratio 36
Business Formation Rate 1
House Price Change (YoY) 34
Structural Poverty 37.6
Unemployment Rate 23
Poverty Rate 34
Income vs. State Median 72
Child Poverty Rate 29
Disability Rate 18
Transfer Income Dependency 34
Consumer Credit Distress 28.0
Debt in Collections 15
Medical Debt 30
Auto Loan Delinquency 31
Credit Card Delinquency 28
Uninsured Rate 60
Subprime Credit Population 25

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Iron County
Iron County, UT 41.0 Normal —
Lincoln County, NV 46.2 Normal +5.3
Washington County, UT 45.7 Normal +4.7
Kane County, UT 33.7 Healthy -7.3
Garfield County, UT 31.4 Healthy -9.5
Beaver County, UT 27.8 Healthy -13.2

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Iron County
Wood County, OH 41.0 Normal 0.0
Madison County, NY 41.0 Normal -0.0
Eaton County, MI 40.8 Normal -0.2
Napa County, CA 40.8 Normal -0.2
St. Mary's County, MD 40.8 Normal -0.2

Download Data

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

Find Help in Iron 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 Iron County residents at no cost.

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

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Frequently Asked Questions

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

    Iron County has a County Distress Index score of 41.0 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 2,129th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 8th in Utah out of 29 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Iron County?

    The primary driver of distress in Iron County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 62.0 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Iron County compare to neighboring counties?

    Iron County (41.0) can be compared to its 5 neighboring counties: Lincoln County, NV (46.2); Washington County, UT (45.7); 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 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). Iron County's score of 41.0 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Iron 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 Iron County?

    Iron County, Utah has a population of approximately 64,211 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.