Utah Financial Distress Profile
Household debt and delinquency, bankruptcy filings, unemployment, foreclosure law and county distress scores for Utah and its 29 counties, from federal sources, each shown beside the U.S. figure.
· Data from Federal Reserve Bank of New York, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, Q4 2025
Behind on your mortgage in Utah? See your options under Utah law →
Utah ranks #42 of 51 jurisdictions on the State Distress Index, in the least distressed fifth: its score of 18 means it is more distressed than 18% of the 50 states and D.C..
How Does Utah Compare With the U.S.?
Utah is above the U.S. figure on 1 of 5 household debt measures from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York for Q4 2025: total debt per adult with a credit file ($83,350). Credit card delinquency is 9.4%, 2.9 percentage points below the U.S. 12.4%; total debt per adult with a credit file is $83,350, $20,150 above the U.S. $63,200.
Credit card delinquency in Utah is up 3.7 percentage points from 5.8% in Q4 2019, and total debt per adult with a credit file is 34.2% higher than in Q4 2019.
Key Statistics at a Glance
State Distress Index: Utah
Movement since 2006
Since 2006, Utah has climbed from the 45th-most distressed jurisdiction to the 43rd-most distressed, as of 2025 Q1. Its State Distress Index score rose from 12 to 16 over the same span.
Quarter-aligned back-series. Each quarter re-ranks all 51 jurisdictions on that quarter's own data, so a state's position here can sit several spots from the current reading above, which uses each input's latest value.
Domain Breakdown
The national American Distress Index reads 47.0 (Typical). The composite itself sits higher than 44% of all published quarters since 2005. Utah's State Distress Index of 18 (very low state distress) is computed from 4 equal-weighted domains covering delinquency, default and legal signals, housing-basis debt burden, and labor.
Utah and the U.S.
Delinquency rates measure balances 90 or more days past due as a share of total balances in each loan category. Higher rates signal greater household financial stress. Debt and balance figures are per adult with a credit file, not per resident.
Download all states (CSV)Utah and the U.S.: 5 Household Debt Measures (Q4 2025)
Source: NY Fed Consumer Credit Panel / Equifax, Q4 2025.
Similar States by Distress Level
The states ranked closest to Utah (#42) on the State Distress Index, with the domain that scores highest in each.
Change Since 2019
Q4 2019, the last fourth quarter before the pandemic, is the baseline. Credit card delinquency is higher than in Q4 2019 in 51 of 51 jurisdictions, and auto loan delinquency is higher in 33.
| Metric | Q4 2019 | Q4 2025 | Change | U.S. Q4 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Credit Card Delinquency | 5.8% | 9.4% | +3.7 percentage points | 12.4% |
| Auto Loan Delinquency | 2.6% | 3.0% | +0.4 percentage points | 5.2% |
| Mortgage Delinquency | 0.47% | 0.70% | +0.23 percentage points | 0.94% |
| Total Debt per Adult With a Credit File | $62,090 | $83,350 | +34.2% | $63,200 |
| Card Balance per Adult With a Credit File | $3,170 | $4,260 | +34.4% | $4,350 |
Utah Foreclosure Law Summary
If you fall behind on mortgage payments, the steps and deadlines depend on state law. Utah mainly uses non-judicial foreclosure, which a lender can carry out without going to court.
Utah has two foreclosure tracks: (1) non-judicial trustee's sale under the Trust Deed Act, Utah Code § 57-1-19 et seq. — the standard and most common path for residential foreclosures using trust deeds; and (2) judicial foreclosure under standard civ…
- Paying to stop the foreclosure: You have 3 months from the date the Notice of Default is recorded to cure the default and reinstate the trust deed. If the trustee receives your written request for a reinstatement statement at least 10 business days before the 3 months end but provides the statement more than five business days after receiving it, the time to reinstate is paused from the date of your request until the statement is provided. You must pay all past-due amounts, late fees, trustee fees, and costs.
How Utah Sits Among the States
Utah's credit card delinquency rate is 9.4%, 2.9 percentage points below the U.S. 12.4%, and ranks #43 of 51. 1 of 5 NY Fed household debt measures are above the U.S. figure, and the State Distress Index reads 18 (very low state distress). The Household Debt by State roundup covers all 51 jurisdictions.
Distress by County
The County Distress Index scores every county in Utah on a 0-100 scale using five equal-weighted domains: delinquency, default and legal, debt burden, labor, and safety net and buffer. Utah's 29 counties average 24.1: on average, Utah's counties are more distressed than 24% of U.S. counties. Across all 3,144 counties the average is 50.0, the middle of the scale.
Score Label Distribution
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Most Distressed Counties
| County | Score | Score Label | Top Driver |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Juan County | 61 | moderate-high county distress | Labor |
| Carbon County | 51 | moderate county distress | Labor |
| Grand County | 48 | moderate-low county distress | Debt Burden (housing basis) |
| Piute County | 44 | moderate-low county distress | Labor |
| Washington County | 39 | low-moderate county distress | Debt Burden (housing basis) |
Least Distressed Counties
| County | Score | Score Label | Top Domain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Morgan County | 1 | exceptionally low county distress | Labor |
| Wasatch County | 2 | exceptionally low county distress | Debt Burden (housing basis) |
| Summit County | 2 | exceptionally low county distress | Debt Burden (housing basis) |
| Beaver County | 4 | exceptionally low county distress | Safety Net & Buffer |
| Wayne County | 9 | exceptionally low county distress | Labor |
The most distressed county in Utah is San Juan County (61, moderate-high county distress); the least distressed is Morgan County (1, exceptionally low county distress).
Explore all 29 Utah counties →CFPB Mortgage Complaints in Utah
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has received 2,887 mortgage complaints from Utah since 2012, 84.5 per 100,000 residents, 50.5 below the U.S. rate of 135. Utah ranks #35 of 51 on complaints per resident.
| Year | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Complaints | 159 | 179 | 175 | 153 | 142 | 208 |
Source: CFPB Consumer Complaint Database. Filed a mortgage complaint? Search the complaint database.
Bankruptcy Filings: Utah
The filing rate is bankruptcy cases filed in a year, from the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, per 100,000 residents. It does not identify household causes, motives, assets, income, or case outcomes. Utah's rate of 231.5 is 62.4 above the U.S. rate of 169.1.
Source: U.S. Courts, Administrative Office. Table F-2: Cases Commenced by Chapter. Per-capita rates use 2024 U.S. Census Bureau population estimates.
Credit Distress: Utah
The Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia's Consumer Credit Explorer reports credit health from NY Fed / Equifax credit records. 9.6% of people with a credit file in Utah have debt in collections, 4.3 percentage points below the U.S. average of 13.9%. 11.4% have subprime credit scores (below 620), and 27.5% are credit-constrained.
Source: Philadelphia Fed Consumer Credit Explorer. Data from NY Fed Consumer Credit Panel / Equifax. Q1 2025. The U.S. average is weighted by state population (our calculation).
Economic Context: Utah
SNAP enrollment and unemployment give context for the debt figures above. The unemployment rate measures joblessness among people in the labor force. SNAP enrollment reflects each state's program rules and reach as well as need, which is why it is not part of the State Distress Index.
Sources: U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service, BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics. Population: U.S. Census Bureau 2024 estimates.
Safety Net Strength: Utah
The Safety Net Index measures how much support infrastructure is available to households in financial distress — combining healthcare coverage, food assistance, emergency housing funds, and legal protections. Utah scores 19.3 out of 100 (Minimal), ranking #49 of 51 jurisdictions.
Component Breakdown
Sources: Kaiser Family Foundation (Medicaid, 2024), USDA FNS (SNAP, June 2026), state foreclosure statutes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the credit card delinquency rate in Utah?
The credit card delinquency rate in Utah is 9.4% as of Q4 2025, ranking #43 among the 51 states and DC, 2.9 percentage points below the U.S. 12.4%. It is up 3.7 percentage points from 5.8% in Q4 2019.
How does Utah's household debt compare with the U.S.?
The NY Fed reports a $83,350 total debt balance per adult with a credit file in Utah, $20,150 above the U.S. $63,200 on the same basis. That is 34.2% higher than in Q4 2019. Utah ranks #6 on that basis.
What is the auto loan delinquency rate in Utah?
Auto loan delinquency in Utah is 3.0% as of Q4 2025, 2.2 percentage points below the U.S. 5.2%. This ranks #45 of 51. The rate is up from 2.6% in Q4 2019.
What type of foreclosure process does Utah use?
Utah mainly uses non-judicial foreclosure, which a lender can carry out without going to court. See our Utah foreclosure guide for the timeline, homeowner protections and where to get free help.
What is Utah's State Distress Index score?
Utah scores 18 on the State Distress Index (very low state distress), which means it is more distressed than 18% of the 50 states and D.C.. It ranks #42 of 51 jurisdictions, in the least distressed fifth. The score is built from 4 equal-weighted domains: delinquency, default and legal, debt burden on a housing basis, and labor. It ranks states against each other at one time. Separately, the national American Distress Index reads 47.0 (Typical) for the country over time. The composite itself sits higher than 44% of all published quarters since 2005.
How many CFPB mortgage complaints have been filed in Utah?
The CFPB has received 2,887 mortgage complaints from Utah since 2012, 84.5 per 100,000 residents, 50.5 below the U.S. rate of 135. That ranks #35 of 51. Companies responded to 98.1% of Utah complaints on time.
What is the bankruptcy filing rate in Utah?
Utah had 7,912 bankruptcy filings in the 12-month period ending Dec 2025, 231.5 per 100,000 residents, 62.4 above the U.S. rate of 169.1. This ranks #8 of 51. Chapter 7 filings account for 65.2% and Chapter 13 for 34.4%. That is 18.9% more filings than in 2024.
What percentage of people in Utah have debt in collections?
9.6% of people with a credit file in Utah have debt in collections, 4.3 percentage points below the U.S. average of 13.9%. This ranks #40 of 51. 11.4% have subprime credit scores (below 620), 5.5 percentage points below the U.S. average of 16.9%. Data from the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia Consumer Credit Explorer (NY Fed / Equifax), Q1 2025.
What is the SNAP enrollment rate in Utah?
145,780 residents of Utah received SNAP benefits in June 2026, an enrollment rate of 4.2%, 6.6 percentage points below the U.S. rate of 10.8%. This ranks #51 of 51. That is 16.4% fewer people than in June 2025. The rate is 0.5 percentage points below the October 2019 to February 2020 average.
How strong is Utah's financial safety net?
Utah scores 19.3 out of 100 on the Safety Net Index, ranking #49 of 51 (Minimal). The score combines Medicaid coverage (10% enrollment rate, expansion state), SNAP enrollment (4.2%), and foreclosure legal protections. That is below the state average of 43.6.
Which Utah counties have the highest financial distress?
San Juan County is the most distressed county in Utah with a County Distress Index score of 61 · moderate-high county distress. Carbon County (51 · moderate county distress), Grand County (48 · moderate-low county distress), Piute County (44 · moderate-low county distress) are next. Morgan County is the least distressed at 1 · exceptionally low county distress. See all 29 counties at /counties/utah/.
How long can foreclosure take in Utah?
Utah mainly uses non-judicial foreclosure, which a lender can carry out without going to court. The timeline varies by county and case. Paying to stop the foreclosure: You have 3 months from the date the Notice of Default is recorded to cure the default and reinstate the trust deed. If the trustee receives your written request for a reinstatement statement at least 10 business days before the 3 months end but provides the statement more than five business days after receiving it, the time to reinstate is paused from the date of your request until the statement is provided. You must pay all past-due amounts, late fees, trustee fees, and costs. Homestead exemption: Varies by year. The statute set $42,000 for a primary residence for May 14 through December 31, 2019, and the State Auditor recalculates that amount for inflation each year and publishes it on its website. Protects that amount of equity in your primary residence from judgment creditors. Does NOT stop mortgage or trust deed foreclosure. Full details at /help/foreclosure/utah/.
Where does Utah rank for financial distress?
Utah scores 18 on the State Distress Index (very low state distress), which means it is more distressed than 18% of the 50 states and D.C.. It ranks #42 of 51 jurisdictions, in the least distressed fifth. 1 of 5 NY Fed household debt measures are above the U.S. figure. The State Distress Index domain with the highest score is Default & Legal. County Distress Index details are listed separately by county. The safety net ranks #49 (Minimal).
Data Sources
NY Fed Consumer Credit Panel
State-level household debt and delinquency statistics from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, based on Equifax credit bureau data. Published once a year with fourth-quarter figures.
American Distress Index
Composite index tracking U.S. household financial distress across five equal-weighted domains. National score as of the latest available quarter.
Utah Foreclosure Statutes
State foreclosure law data compiled from primary statutory sources and validated against legal databases. Last verified 2026-03-10.
CFPB Complaint Database
Mortgage complaints filed with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, 2012–present. Density calculated using 2024 Census population estimates.
USDA SNAP State Activity
Monthly SNAP participation by state from the USDA Food and Nutrition Service. Enrollment rates computed against 2024 Census population estimates.
U.S. Bankruptcy Courts
Annual bankruptcy filings by chapter and district from the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts. Per-capita rates computed against 2024 Census population estimates.
Philadelphia Fed Consumer Credit Explorer
Quarterly credit health metrics (collections, subprime share, delinquency, credit-constrained rates) from Equifax via the NY Fed Consumer Credit Panel.
Safety Net Index
Composite score from KFF Medicaid enrollment (2024), USDA SNAP participation (latest month), and state foreclosure legal protections.