Middlesex County, New Jersey

County Distress Index: Normal · 46.0 | 863,623 people · 14th most distressed in New Jersey
American Default Research

Behind on your mortgage or facing eviction? Take a 2-minute assessment to see your options.

Middlesex County, NJ falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 46.0 — 1849th 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 14th of 21 counties. Among its 5 neighboring counties, 3 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Middlesex County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 78.5 — worse than roughly 79% of U.S. counties.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 78.5
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 76
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 71
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 99
Homeownership Rate 88
Economic Vitality 72.3
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 93
Rent-to-Income Ratio 92
Business Formation Rate 11
House Price Change (YoY) 24
Legal Distress 54.5
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 55
Consumer Credit Distress 31.6
Debt in Collections 19
Medical Debt 24
Auto Loan Delinquency 41
Credit Card Delinquency 38
Uninsured Rate 41
Subprime Credit Population 33
Structural Poverty 20.7
Unemployment Rate 69
Poverty Rate 10
Income vs. State Median 32
Child Poverty Rate 11
Disability Rate 4
Transfer Income Dependency 6

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Middlesex County
Middlesex County, NJ 46.0 Normal —
Union County, NJ 58.9 Elevated +12.9
Mercer County, NJ 55.4 Elevated +9.4
Richmond County, NY 50.1 Elevated +4.1
Monmouth County, NJ 39.3 Normal -6.7
Somerset County, NJ 33.7 Healthy -12.3

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Middlesex County
York County, PA 46.1 Normal +0.1
Thurston County, WA 45.8 Normal -0.2
Erie County, NY 46.4 Normal +0.4
Harford County, MD 45.5 Normal -0.5
Madison County, IL 47.0 Normal +1.0

Download Data

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

Find Help in Middlesex County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Middlesex County.

PUERTO RICAN ACTION BOARD, INC.
East Brunswick
732-832-7535 Website
Foreclosure PreventionMortgage HelpFinancial CounselingFinancial Counseling
PUERTO RICAN ASSOCIATION FOR HUMAN DEVELOPMENT, INC.
Perth Amboy
732-638-2824
Foreclosure PreventionMortgage HelpPost-PurchasePre-Purchase
THE HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF PERTH AMBOY
PERTH AMBOY
732-826-3110-631 Website
Foreclosure PreventionFinancial CounselingFinancial CounselingHome Improvement/Rehab

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 Middlesex 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 →

Continue Reading

Frequently Asked Questions

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

    Middlesex County has a County Distress Index score of 46.0 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 1,849th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 14th in New Jersey out of 21 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Middlesex County?

    The primary driver of distress in Middlesex County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 78.5 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Middlesex County compare to neighboring counties?

    Middlesex County (46.0) can be compared to its 5 neighboring counties: Union County, NJ (58.9); Mercer County, NJ (55.4); Richmond County, NY (50.1).

  • 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 Normal 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). Middlesex County's score of 46.0 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Middlesex 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 Middlesex County?

    Middlesex County, New Jersey has a population of approximately 863,623 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a large county.