Passaic County, New Jersey

County Distress Index: Serious · 68.0 | 513,395 people · 3rd most distressed in New Jersey
American Default Research

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Passaic County, NJ shows significant household financial distress with a score of 68.0 — 495th 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 3rd 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. Passaic County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 97.8 — worse than roughly 98% of U.S. counties.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 97.8
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 96
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 99
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 99
Homeownership Rate 99
Economic Vitality 75.9
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 99
Rent-to-Income Ratio 99
Business Formation Rate 8
House Price Change (YoY) 20
Legal Distress 58.5
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 58
Consumer Credit Distress 58.4
Debt in Collections 46
Medical Debt 39
Auto Loan Delinquency 63
Credit Card Delinquency 62
Uninsured Rate 78
Subprime Credit Population 70
Structural Poverty 52.3
Unemployment Rate 85
Poverty Rate 53
Income vs. State Median 85
Child Poverty Rate 62
Disability Rate 3
Transfer Income Dependency 29

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Passaic County
Passaic County, NJ 68.0 Serious —
Essex County, NJ 72.2 Serious +4.2
Orange County, NY 54.5 Elevated -13.5
Rockland County, NY 44.1 Normal -23.9
Sussex County, NJ 41.8 Normal -26.2
Bergen County, NJ 41.3 Normal -26.7
Morris County, NJ 27.4 Healthy -40.5

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Passaic County
Genesee County, MI 68.0 Serious +0.1
Leon County, FL 68.2 Serious +0.2
Merced County, CA 67.7 Serious -0.3
Milwaukee County, WI 67.6 Serious -0.4
Gwinnett County, GA 68.5 Serious +0.5

Download Data

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

Find Help in Passaic County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Passaic County.

HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF PATERSON
Paterson
973-345-5085 Website
Financial CounselingPre-PurchaseHomebuyer Education
PATERSON TASK FORCE FOR COMMUNITY ACTION, INC
Paterson
973-279-2333-135 Website
Foreclosure PreventionFinancial CounselingFair HousingPre-Purchase

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 Passaic 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 Passaic County, New Jersey?

    Passaic County has a County Distress Index score of 68.0 out of 100, placing it in the Serious zone. It ranks 495th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 3rd in New Jersey out of 21 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Passaic County?

    The primary driver of distress in Passaic County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 97.8 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Passaic County compare to neighboring counties?

    Passaic County (68.0) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Essex County, NJ (72.2); Orange County, NY (54.5); Rockland County, NY (44.1).

  • 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 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). Passaic County's score of 68.0 sits in the Serious zone (71–86).

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

    Passaic 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 Passaic County?

    Passaic County, New Jersey has a population of approximately 513,395 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a large county.