Albany County, New York

County Distress Index: Normal · 43.5 | 316,659 people · 40th most distressed in New York
American Default Research

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Albany County, NY falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 43.5 — 1984th 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 York, it ranks 40th of 62 counties. Its score is in the middle of its 6 neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Albany County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 79.6 — worse than roughly 80% of U.S. counties.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 79.6
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 72
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 84
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 67
Homeownership Rate 95
Economic Vitality 47.8
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 49
Rent-to-Income Ratio 80
Business Formation Rate 1
House Price Change (YoY) 33
Legal Distress 44.5
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 45
Consumer Credit Distress 30.8
Debt in Collections 35
Medical Debt 7
Auto Loan Delinquency 33
Credit Card Delinquency 47
Uninsured Rate 1
Subprime Credit Population 38
Structural Poverty 25.1
Unemployment Rate 34
Poverty Rate 45
Income vs. State Median 19
Child Poverty Rate 33
Disability Rate 20
Transfer Income Dependency 11

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Albany County
Albany County, NY 43.5 Normal —
Schenectady County, NY 53.7 Elevated +10.2
Rensselaer County, NY 44.0 Normal +0.6
Greene County, NY 43.8 Normal +0.3
Schoharie County, NY 40.0 Normal -3.4
Columbia County, NY 38.4 Normal -5.1
Saratoga County, NY 30.9 Healthy -12.6

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Albany County
Kent County, MI 43.5 Normal +0.0
Plymouth County, MA 43.4 Normal -0.1
Polk County, IA 43.6 Normal +0.1
Dutchess County, NY 43.7 Normal +0.2
Clark County, WA 43.1 Normal -0.4

Download Data

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

Find Help in Albany County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Albany County.

AFFORDABLE HOUSING PARTNERSHIP
Albany
518-434-1730 Website
Foreclosure PreventionFinancial CounselingFinancial CounselingHome Improvement/Rehab
ALBANY COUNTY RURAL HOUSING ALLIANCE, INC.
Voorheesville
518-765-2425
Foreclosure PreventionMortgage HelpFinancial CounselingHome Improvement/Rehab

See all counselors in New York →

Find an Attorney

New York State Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service offers a lawyer referral service for bankruptcy, foreclosure defense, and consumer rights.

New York State Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service 1-800-342-3661

Free Legal Aid

Legal aid organizations serving Albany County residents at no cost.

Legal Services NYC 1-917-661-4500
Legal Aid Society 1-212-577-3300
Empire Justice Center 1-585-454-4060
Legal Aid Society of Northeastern New York 1-800-462-2922
Legal Aid Society of Mid-New York, Inc. (877) 777-6152
Legal Assistance of Western New York, Inc. (585) 325-2520
Legal Services of the Hudson Valley (877) 574-8529
Nassau/Suffolk Law Services Committee, Inc. (631) 232-2400
Neighborhood Legal Services, Inc. (716) 847-0650

Self-Help Resources

NYCourts.gov Foreclosure Help Official court system page with information about the foreclosure process, settlement conferences, and available resources. Includes court forms and instructions for pro se litigants.
LawHelp NY — Foreclosure Resources Comprehensive self-help legal information portal for New York residents. Includes foreclosure guides, court form generators, and legal services finder organized by county.

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 York →

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the distress score for Albany County, New York?

    Albany County has a County Distress Index score of 43.5 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 1,984th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 40th in New York out of 62 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Albany County?

    The primary driver of distress in Albany County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 79.6 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Albany County compare to neighboring counties?

    Albany County (43.5) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Schenectady County, NY (53.7); Rensselaer County, NY (44.0); Greene County, NY (43.8).

  • 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). Albany County's score of 43.5 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Albany 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 Albany County?

    Albany County, New York has a population of approximately 316,659 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a large county.