Elbert County, Colorado

County Distress Index: Healthy · 23.4 | 28,806 people · 63rd most distressed in Colorado
American Default Research

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Elbert County, CO ranks among the least distressed counties in the country at 23.4 — 3067th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Housing Cost Burden, where housing remains relatively affordable compared to local incomes. Within Colorado, it ranks 63rd of 64 counties. Among its 4 neighboring counties, 3 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five domains of financial distress. Elbert County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 42.5 — above the national median.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 42.5
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 34
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 35
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 100
Homeownership Rate 0
Rent-to-Income Ratio 43
Employment & Wages 41.0
Unemployment Rate 23
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 97
Business Formation Rate 3
Debt & Delinquency 23.7
Debt in Collections 9
Medical Debt 7
Student Loan Delinquency 16
Auto Loan Delinquency 13
Credit Card Delinquency 34
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 64
Community Vulnerability 7.7
Uninsured Rate 13
Disability Rate 2
Income & Poverty 2.1
Poverty Rate 2
Income vs. State Median 2
Child Poverty Rate 3

Scores are percentile-based: 50 = national median, higher = more distressed. The median line is shown on each bar.

Neighbors and Peers

How Elbert County compares to its 4 neighboring counties and population peers.

Neighboring Counties

County Score Zone vs. Elbert County
Elbert County, CO 23.4 Healthy —
Lincoln County, CO 49.8 Normal +26.4
Arapahoe County, CO 44.6 Normal +21.2
El Paso County, CO 42.2 Normal +18.8
Douglas County, CO 23.2 Healthy -0.2

Population Peers

County Score Zone vs. Elbert County
Hughes County, SD 23.5 Healthy +0.1
Brookings County, SD 23.6 Healthy +0.2
Boone County, IA 23.2 Healthy -0.2
Mitchell County, IA 23.7 Healthy +0.3
Lincoln County, WY 23.0 Healthy -0.4

Download Data

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

Find Help in Elbert County

Find an Attorney

Colorado Bar Association — Lawyer Referral Service offers a lawyer referral service for bankruptcy, foreclosure defense, and consumer rights.

Colorado Bar Association — Lawyer Referral Service 303-831-8000

Free Legal Aid

Legal aid organizations serving Elbert County residents at no cost.

Colorado Legal Services 303-837-1313 (Denver); 1-866-529-6257 (statewide)
Colorado Volunteer Lawyer Resource (CVLR) 303-722-0300
Colorado Bar Association — Lawyer Referral Service 303-831-8000 (Denver); 1-800-332-6736 (statewide)

American Default Research does not endorse, rate, or rank any provider. Verify attorney credentials with your state bar.

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the distress score for Elbert County, Colorado?

    Elbert County has a County Distress Index score of 23.4 out of 100, placing it in the Healthy zone. It ranks 3,067th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 63rd in Colorado out of 64 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Elbert County?

    The primary driver of distress in Elbert County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 42.5 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Elbert County compare to neighboring counties?

    Elbert County (23.4) can be compared to its 4 neighboring counties: Lincoln County, CO (49.8); Arapahoe County, CO (44.6); El Paso County, CO (42.2).

  • How is the County Distress Index calculated?

    The County Distress Index uses percentile-rank averaging across five domains: Debt & Delinquency, Income & Poverty, Housing Cost Burden, Employment & Wages, and Community Vulnerability. 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.

  • What is the population of Elbert County?

    Elbert County, Colorado has a population of approximately 28,806 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.