Hudson County, New Jersey

County Distress Index: Elevated · 61.3 | 705,472 people · 7th most distressed in New Jersey
American Default Research

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Hudson County, NJ registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 61.3 — 862nd 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 7th of 21 counties. Among its 6 neighboring counties, 5 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Hudson County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 81.4 — worse than roughly 81% of U.S. counties.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 81.4
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 76
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 76
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 94
Homeownership Rate 99
Economic Vitality 71.0
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 92
Rent-to-Income Ratio 99
Business Formation Rate 5
House Price Change (YoY) 9
Legal Distress 62.0
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 62
Consumer Credit Distress 54.9
Debt in Collections 34
Medical Debt 21
Auto Loan Delinquency 82
Credit Card Delinquency 65
Uninsured Rate 72
Subprime Credit Population 61
Structural Poverty 44.0
Unemployment Rate 61
Poverty Rate 63
Income vs. State Median 71
Child Poverty Rate 73
Disability Rate 1
Transfer Income Dependency 5

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Hudson County
Hudson County, NJ 61.3 Elevated —
Essex County, NJ 72.2 Serious +10.8
Union County, NJ 58.9 Elevated -2.4
Kings County, NY 58.6 Elevated -2.7
Richmond County, NY 50.1 Elevated -11.2
Bergen County, NJ 41.3 Normal -20.0
New York County, NY 40.4 Normal -20.9

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Hudson County
Spartanburg County, SC 61.2 Elevated -0.1
Lehigh County, PA 61.2 Elevated -0.1
St. Clair County, IL 61.5 Elevated +0.1
Hays County, TX 61.1 Elevated -0.2
Cobb County, GA 61.0 Elevated -0.3

Download Data

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

Find Help in Hudson County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Hudson County.

THE WATERFRONT PROJECT, INC.
JERSEY CITY
551-256-7578 Website
Foreclosure PreventionRental Help

See all counselors in New Jersey →

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 Hudson 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 Hudson County, New Jersey?

    Hudson County has a County Distress Index score of 61.3 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 862nd nationally out of 3,144 counties and 7th in New Jersey out of 21 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Hudson County?

    The primary driver of distress in Hudson County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 81.4 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Hudson County compare to neighboring counties?

    Hudson County (61.3) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Essex County, NJ (72.2); Union County, NJ (58.9); Kings County, NY (58.6).

  • 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 Elevated 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). Hudson County's score of 61.3 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Hudson 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 Hudson County?

    Hudson County, New Jersey has a population of approximately 705,472 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a large county.