Atlantic County, New Jersey

County Distress Index: Serious · 66.9 | 275,213 people · 5th most distressed in New Jersey
American Default Research

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Atlantic County, NJ shows significant household financial distress with a score of 66.9 — 554th 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 New Jersey, it ranks 5th of 21 counties. Among its 6 neighboring counties, 4 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Atlantic County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 93.1 — worse than roughly 93% of U.S. counties.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 93.1
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 94
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 97
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 99
Homeownership Rate 78
Legal Distress 81.2
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 81
Economic Vitality 75.7
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 95
Rent-to-Income Ratio 95
Business Formation Rate 27
House Price Change (YoY) 15
Structural Poverty 56.7
Unemployment Rate 93
Poverty Rate 37
Income vs. State Median 93
Child Poverty Rate 39
Disability Rate 33
Transfer Income Dependency 40
Consumer Credit Distress 53.6
Debt in Collections 51
Medical Debt 23
Auto Loan Delinquency 64
Credit Card Delinquency 67
Uninsured Rate 45
Subprime Credit Population 61

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Atlantic County
Atlantic County, NJ 66.9 Serious —
Cumberland County, NJ 78.8 Serious +12.0
Camden County, NJ 67.3 Serious +0.4
Gloucester County, NJ 53.0 Elevated -13.9
Burlington County, NJ 49.4 Normal -17.5
Ocean County, NJ 47.3 Normal -19.6
Cape May County, NJ 47.3 Normal -19.6

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Atlantic County
Lucas County, OH 66.8 Serious -0.1
Tulare County, CA 66.6 Serious -0.3
Lake County, IN 67.2 Serious +0.3
Camden County, NJ 67.3 Serious +0.4
Montgomery County, OH 66.5 Serious -0.4

Download Data

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

Find Help in Atlantic County

Find an Attorney

New Jersey State Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service offers a lawyer referral service for bankruptcy, foreclosure defense, and consumer rights.

New Jersey State Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service 1-800-792-8315

Free Legal Aid

Legal aid organizations serving Atlantic County residents at no cost.

Legal Services of New Jersey 1-888-576-5529
Community Health Law Project
New Jersey State Bar Foundation — Lawyer Referral Service 1-800-792-8315
Central Jersey Legal Services, Inc. (732) 249-7600
Essex-Newark Legal Services Project, Inc. (973) 624-4500
Legal Services of Northwest Jersey, Inc. (908) 231-0840
Northeast New Jersey Legal Services Corporation (201) 792-6363
South Jersey Legal Services, Inc. (800) 496-4570

Self-Help Resources

NJ Courts Foreclosure Self-Help Center Official NJ Courts self-help guidance on foreclosure proceedings

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 New Jersey →

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the distress score for Atlantic County, New Jersey?

    Atlantic County has a County Distress Index score of 66.9 out of 100, placing it in the Serious zone. It ranks 554th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 5th in New Jersey out of 21 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Atlantic County?

    The primary driver of distress in Atlantic County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 93.1 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Atlantic County compare to neighboring counties?

    Atlantic County (66.9) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Cumberland County, NJ (78.8); Camden County, NJ (67.3); Gloucester County, NJ (53.0).

  • 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 Serious 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). Atlantic County's score of 66.9 sits in the Serious zone (71–86).

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

    Atlantic 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 Atlantic County?

    Atlantic County, New Jersey has a population of approximately 275,213 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a large county.