Salem County, New Jersey

County Distress Index: Elevated · 64.8 | 65,338 people · 6th most distressed in New Jersey
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Salem County, NJ registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 64.8 — 652nd 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 6th of 21 counties. Its score is in the middle of its 4 neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Salem County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 91.5 — worse than roughly 92% of U.S. counties.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 91.5
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 97
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 95
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 96
Homeownership Rate 65
Legal Distress 79.6
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 80
Economic Vitality 72.3
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 86
Rent-to-Income Ratio 84
Business Formation Rate 36
House Price Change (YoY) 38
Structural Poverty 56.9
Unemployment Rate 92
Poverty Rate 25
Income vs. State Median 82
Child Poverty Rate 35
Disability Rate 51
Transfer Income Dependency 51
Consumer Credit Distress 50.7
Debt in Collections 52
Medical Debt 25
Auto Loan Delinquency 56
Credit Card Delinquency 64
Uninsured Rate 19
Subprime Credit Population 64

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Salem County
Salem County, NJ 64.8 Elevated —
Cumberland County, NJ 78.8 Serious +14.1
Kent County, DE 71.4 Serious +6.6
New Castle County, DE 61.7 Elevated -3.1
Gloucester County, NJ 53.0 Elevated -11.8

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Salem County
Bay County, FL 64.7 Elevated -0.1
Gila County, AZ 64.7 Elevated -0.1
Pulaski County, KY 64.9 Elevated +0.1
Kershaw County, SC 64.7 Elevated -0.1
Mohave County, AZ 64.7 Elevated -0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Salem 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 Salem 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

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Frequently Asked Questions

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

    Salem County has a County Distress Index score of 64.8 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 652nd nationally out of 3,144 counties and 6th in New Jersey out of 21 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Salem County?

    The primary driver of distress in Salem County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 91.5 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Salem County compare to neighboring counties?

    Salem County (64.8) can be compared to its 4 neighboring counties: Cumberland County, NJ (78.8); Kent County, DE (71.4); New Castle County, DE (61.7).

  • 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). Salem County's score of 64.8 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Salem 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 Salem County?

    Salem County, New Jersey has a population of approximately 65,338 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.