Unemployment in Colusa County, California, is higher than in 99% of U.S. counties
In Colusa County, 13.2% of the labor force was out of work, on average (Bureau of Labor Statistics, Sep 2025 to Aug 2026). That is higher than in 99% of U.S. counties.
More distressed than 59% of U.S. counties.
What drives Colusa County's score
In Colusa County, jobs weigh most: the score for jobs is 88.7. Unemployment averaged 13.2%, Sep 2025 to Aug 2026, higher than in 99% of U.S. counties. Housing costs come next, at 83.3.
The County Distress Index combines five things we measure for every county: jobs, late payments on loans, income and the safety net, collections and bankruptcy, and housing costs. Each gets a score from 0 to 100; the higher the score, the worse off the county is compared with others.
Colusa County does better than most counties on two measures: people with a car or retail loan behind (2.6%, August 2025) and people with a disability (12.1%, 2020 to 2024).
The five parts count equally; together they hold 14 measures. Under each part, a bar shows where Colusa County ranks among all 3,144 U.S. counties on that measure, as a percentile: the share of counties it is higher than. A longer bar means more trouble.
- 88.7 of 100
Jobs
Biggest factorAdults not working, 2020–24 Census survey; unemployment through Aug 2026
- Adults 25 to 54 not working25.8% · 2020 to 202477th percentile
- Unemployment rate, 12-month average13.2% · Sep 2025 to Aug 202699th percentile
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- 83.3 of 100
Housing costs
HUD's fair market rents, fiscal year 2027; renters, 2020–24 Census survey
- Rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income23.3% · fiscal year 202773rd percentile
- Renters paying half their income or more in rent27.6% · 2020 to 202493rd percentile
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- 40.7 of 100
Income and safety net
Poverty and income, 2024; disability and insurance, 2020–24 Census survey
- Children below the poverty line15.3% · 202440th percentile
- People with a disability12.1% · 2020 to 202415th percentile
- Median household income (lower income, longer bar)$69,149 · 202442nd percentile
- People below the poverty line13.6% · 202453rd percentile
- People without health insurance8.0% · 2020 to 202451st percentile
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- 37.0 of 100
Late payments
Credit records, August 2025; credit scores, Q4 2025
- People with a car or retail loan behind2.6% · August 20259th percentile
- People with a credit card behind5.4% · August 202549th percentile
- People with a subprime credit score23.8% · Q4 202551st percentile
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- 30.8 of 100
Collections and bankruptcy
Credit records, August 2025; bankruptcy filings, 2025
- People with unpaid debt sent to a collector16.2% · August 202523rd percentile
- Bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people104.4 · 202538th percentile
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Sources: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Fair Market Rents and U.S. Census Bureau income; Census Bureau, American Community Survey; Urban Institute, Debt in America; Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, Table F-5A; Equifax via the St. Louis Fed; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates. County Distress Index by American Default Research, from data through Aug 2026.
Where the money in Colusa County comes from
The Bureau of Economic Analysis adds up all the income that reaches the people of a county and splits it three ways: pay from work, income from investments and rent, and benefit checks.
Cents of every dollar of income, 2024
Colusa County
California
United States
- Pay from work
- Investments and rent
- Benefit checks
In Colusa County in 2024, pay from work was 55 cents of every dollar of income. Income from investments and rentals was 23 cents. Benefit checks were 22 cents. Across the country, pay is 61 cents of the dollar and benefit checks are 18.
Benefit checks have grown from 7 cents of every dollar in 1969, but pay from work still brings in more.
In Colusa County, benefit checks rose from 7 to 22 cents of every dollar
Benefit checks and pay from work as shares of all personal income, Colusa County, California: 21.5% and 55.2% in 2024. Yearly, 1969–2024.
Use this chart Free to use with credit
The quote: In 2024, benefit checks made up 21.5% of all personal income in Colusa County, California (U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, CAINC4).
Benefit checks are Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid paid on people's behalf, veterans' benefits, and food and income support, so a high share usually means an older population, low pay, or both. In Colusa County, 15.5% of residents are 65 or older (Census Bureau, 2024), against 17.2% nationally.
How Colusa County has changed
The number of people living in Colusa County grew by about 79% between 1969 and 2024, from 12,334 to 22,074. The number of jobs located there grew by about 41% from 1990 to 2024.
Unemployment fell from 14.3% in 1990 to 13.9% in 2025.
| Measure | Then | Now |
|---|---|---|
| People living in the countyBEA | 1969 12,334 | 2024 22,074 |
| Jobs located in the countyBLS QCEW | 1990 6,617 | 2024 9,354 |
| Unemployment rateBLS LAUS | 1990 14.3% | 2025 13.9% |
| People below the poverty lineCensus SAIPE | 1989 13.9% | 2024 13.6% |
| Median household income (not adjusted for prices)Census SAIPE | 1989 $23,690 | 2024 $69,149 |
| Share of income from benefit checksBEA | 1969 7.0% | 2024 21.5% |
Figures are as each agency published them, not adjusted for prices. We don't chart the distress score over time because it compares counties at one moment.
Dated events in Colusa County's history
Largest decennial census count
The county's largest recorded population was the 2020 Census count of 21,839, which is also its most recent census. Census Bureau
1850
Created in 1850 at the time of California statehood as one of the original counties. Wikipedia
2017
Flood: $7 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2023
Flood: $1 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2025
Flood: one death. NOAA Storm Events Database
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Since 1964
19 federal disaster and emergency declarations have covered Colusa County, 14 of them for flooding. FEMA
Storms are listed if they did $1 million or more in damage or killed someone.
Colusa County beside its neighbors
Of the five counties that border Colusa County, four score higher. For the share of income from benefit checks, Colusa County ranks 5th of the six; Lake County is highest, at 37.4%.
| County | Score | Poverty | Benefit checks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lake County, CA | 92 | 19.7% | 37.4% |
| Butte County, CA | 80 | 18.7% | 29.7% |
| Glenn County, CA | 74 | 15.5% | 28.4% |
| Sutter County, CA | 69 | 12.6% | 25.6% |
| Colusa County, CA | 59 | 13.6% | 21.5% |
| Yolo County, CA | 47 | 17.4% | 17.3% |
Distress score: American Default Research, County Distress Index, data through Aug 2026; each county scored against all 3,144. Poverty rate: Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates, 2024. Benefit checks: Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024. Neighbors share a border, from Census county maps.
Is Colusa County the poorest county in California?
No, Colusa County's poverty rate was 13.6% in 2024, 25th highest of 58 in California (U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates). By that measure the poorest county in the state is Trinity County, at 23.0%. On our distress index, which counts more than poverty, Colusa County ranks 29th of 58 in the state.
Colusa County in photographs
Places in Colusa County from Wikimedia Commons, each captioned in its photographer's own words.
Colusa County Courthouse, Colusa, California, USA.
Photo: San Francisco Examiner via Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
Colusa County, California: common questions
What is the poverty rate in Colusa County, California?
13.6% in 2024, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates: about one in seven people. Among children it was 15.3%.
Is Colusa County the poorest county in California?
No, Colusa County's poverty rate was 13.6% in 2024, 25th highest of 58 in California (U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates). By that measure the poorest county in the state is Trinity County, at 23.0%. On our distress index, which counts more than poverty, Colusa County ranks 29th of 58 in the state.
What is the population of Colusa County, California?
About 22,074 people in 2024, by the Bureau of Economic Analysis's count. The 2020 Census counted 21,839, the most of any census.
How is the County Distress Index calculated?
We rank every U.S. county on 14 federal measures of money trouble, grouped into five equally weighted parts, and average them. The published score is the share of the other 3,143 counties with a lower average. The methodology lists every measure and its source.
If you're behind on your mortgage in Colusa County
A U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development-approved housing counselor works at a nonprofit agency approved by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The counseling to avoid foreclosure is free, and a counselor can help you talk to your mortgage company and understand what it offers, according to the Consumer Financial Protection BureauSourceCFPB.
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California Rural Legal Assistance (CRLA)
Legal aid
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HUD-approved housing counselors
Counseling to avoid foreclosure is free. Our help directory lists 1,313 approved agencies by state.
The score, its 14 measures and their sources, in one file. Free to use with credit to American Default Research.
Download the CSV for Colusa County · Every U.S. county (CSV)
Sources and method
- American Default Research · County Distress Index Data through Aug 2026, built from HUD Fair Market Rents and Census income; Census Bureau, American Community Survey; Urban Institute, Debt in America; U.S. Courts, Table F-5A; Equifax via the St. Louis Fed; Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates. Our methodology
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Economic Accounts (CAINC4) · income shares Where the money in Colusa County comes from, 2024.
- History The agencies named in each row and the linked records above.