Utah County, Utah

County Distress Index: Normal · 36.5 | 719,174 people · 13th most distressed in Utah
American Default Research

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Utah County, UT falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 36.5 — 2390th 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 Utah, it ranks 13th of 29 counties. Among its 7 neighboring counties, 5 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Utah County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 72.8 — above the national median.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 72.8
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 77
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 62
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 91
Homeownership Rate 77
Legal Distress 71.6
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 72
Economic Vitality 42.5
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 71
Rent-to-Income Ratio 15
Business Formation Rate 3
House Price Change (YoY) 61
Consumer Credit Distress 20.4
Debt in Collections 9
Medical Debt 29
Auto Loan Delinquency 19
Credit Card Delinquency 21
Uninsured Rate 46
Subprime Credit Population 17
Structural Poverty 10.3
Unemployment Rate 41
Poverty Rate 13
Income vs. State Median 9
Child Poverty Rate 4
Disability Rate 1
Transfer Income Dependency 3

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Utah County
Utah County, UT 36.5 Normal —
Carbon County, UT 50.8 Elevated +14.3
Salt Lake County, UT 48.2 Normal +11.7
Duchesne County, UT 40.9 Normal +4.4
Tooele County, UT 38.5 Normal +2.0
Sanpete County, UT 37.9 Normal +1.4
Juab County, UT 29.1 Healthy -7.4
Wasatch County, UT 26.0 Healthy -10.5

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Utah County
Dakota County, MN 36.1 Normal -0.4
Lake County, IL 36.1 Normal -0.4
McHenry County, IL 37.1 Normal +0.6
Ada County, ID 35.7 Normal -0.8
Placer County, CA 37.4 Normal +0.9

Download Data

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

Find Help in Utah County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Utah County.

COMMUNITY ACTION SERVICES
Provo
801-373-8200 Website
Financial CounselingFinancial CounselingPre-PurchaseHomebuyer Education
NEIGHBORWORKS MOUNTAIN COUNTRY HOME SOLUTIONS
Orem
801-375-5820 Website
Foreclosure PreventionFinancial CounselingFinancial CounselingPre-Purchase

See all counselors in Utah →

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 Utah 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 →

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Frequently Asked Questions

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

    Utah County has a County Distress Index score of 36.5 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 2,390th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 13th in Utah out of 29 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Utah County?

    The primary driver of distress in Utah County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 72.8 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Utah County compare to neighboring counties?

    Utah County (36.5) can be compared to its 7 neighboring counties: Carbon County, UT (50.8); Salt Lake County, UT (48.2); Duchesne County, UT (40.9).

  • 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 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). Utah County's score of 36.5 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Utah 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 Utah County?

    Utah County, Utah has a population of approximately 719,174 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a large county.