Morris County, New Jersey

County Distress Index: Healthy · 27.4 | 514,423 people · 20th most distressed in New Jersey
American Default Research

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Morris County, NJ ranks among the least distressed counties in the country at 27.4 — 2870th 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 20th of 21 counties. Among its 7 neighboring counties, 6 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Morris County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 70.3 — above the national median.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 70.3
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 69
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 71
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 97
Homeownership Rate 53
Economic Vitality 42.8
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 60
Rent-to-Income Ratio 36
Business Formation Rate 17
House Price Change (YoY) 25
Legal Distress 32.3
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 32
Consumer Credit Distress 9.0
Debt in Collections 3
Medical Debt 21
Auto Loan Delinquency 10
Credit Card Delinquency 10
Uninsured Rate 14
Subprime Credit Population 5
Structural Poverty 8.6
Unemployment Rate 49
Poverty Rate 1
Income vs. State Median 7
Child Poverty Rate 1
Disability Rate 1
Transfer Income Dependency 1

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Morris County
Morris County, NJ 27.4 Healthy —
Essex County, NJ 72.2 Serious +44.7
Passaic County, NJ 68.0 Serious +40.5
Union County, NJ 58.9 Elevated +31.5
Warren County, NJ 43.8 Normal +16.4
Sussex County, NJ 41.8 Normal +14.4
Somerset County, NJ 33.7 Healthy +6.2
Hunterdon County, NJ 26.3 Healthy -1.2

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Morris County
Warren County, OH 27.7 Healthy +0.3
Johnson County, KS 27.1 Healthy -0.4
Chester County, PA 28.3 Healthy +0.9
Douglas County, CO 28.6 Healthy +1.1
San Francisco County, CA 25.7 Healthy -1.8

Download Data

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

Find Help in Morris County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Morris County.

HOUSING PARTNERSHIP FOR MORRIS COUNTY
Dover
973-659-9222 Website
Foreclosure PreventionMortgage HelpFinancial CounselingFinancial Counseling

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 Morris 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 Morris County, New Jersey?

    Morris County has a County Distress Index score of 27.4 out of 100, placing it in the Healthy zone. It ranks 2,870th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 20th in New Jersey out of 21 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Morris County?

    The primary driver of distress in Morris County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 70.3 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Morris County compare to neighboring counties?

    Morris County (27.4) can be compared to its 7 neighboring counties: Essex County, NJ (72.2); Passaic County, NJ (68.0); Union County, NJ (58.9).

  • 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 Healthy 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). Morris County's score of 27.4 sits in the Healthy zone (below 46).

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

    Morris 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 Morris County?

    Morris County, New Jersey has a population of approximately 514,423 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a large county.