Allegany County, New York

County Distress Index: Normal · 44.6 | 46,651 people · 31st most distressed in New York
American Default Research

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Allegany County, NY falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 44.6 — 1922nd nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Structural Poverty, where poverty rates are high, transfer income dependency is elevated, and household incomes lag well behind state and national medians. Within New York, it ranks 31st of 62 counties. Among its 6 neighboring counties, 4 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Allegany County's primary driver is Structural Poverty at 68.8 — above the national median.

Structural Poverty Primary driver 68.8
Unemployment Rate 80
Poverty Rate 61
Income vs. State Median 86
Child Poverty Rate 47
Disability Rate 57
Transfer Income Dependency 73
Housing Cost Burden 58.6
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 63
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 82
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 24
Homeownership Rate 18
Economic Vitality 42.1
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 22
Rent-to-Income Ratio 43
Business Formation Rate 96
House Price Change (YoY) 40
Consumer Credit Distress 35.4
Debt in Collections 49
Medical Debt 7
Auto Loan Delinquency 23
Credit Card Delinquency 63
Uninsured Rate 16
Subprime Credit Population 36
Legal Distress 19.7
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 20

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Allegany County
Allegany County, NY 44.6 Normal —
Cattaraugus County, NY 51.5 Elevated +6.9
McKean County, PA 47.8 Normal +3.2
Steuben County, NY 43.4 Normal -1.2
Livingston County, NY 41.5 Normal -3.0
Potter County, PA 34.9 Healthy -9.7
Wyoming County, NY 22.9 Healthy -21.7

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Allegany County
Wabash County, IN 44.5 Normal -0.1
Minidoka County, ID 44.5 Normal -0.1
Putnam County, IN 44.5 Normal -0.1
Benewah County, ID 44.7 Normal +0.1
Montgomery County, MO 44.7 Normal +0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Allegany County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Allegany County.

ALLEGANY COUNTY COMMUNITY OPPORTUNITIES AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT (ACCORD) CORP.
Belmont
585-268-7605 Website
Foreclosure PreventionFair HousingHome Improvement/RehabHomeless/Displacement

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 Allegany 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 Allegany County, New York?

    Allegany County has a County Distress Index score of 44.6 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 1,922nd nationally out of 3,144 counties and 31st in New York out of 62 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Allegany County?

    The primary driver of distress in Allegany County is Structural Poverty, where the county scores 68.8 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Unemployment Rate, Poverty Rate, Income vs. State Median.

  • How does Allegany County compare to neighboring counties?

    Allegany County (44.6) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Cattaraugus County, NY (51.5); McKean County, PA (47.8); Steuben County, NY (43.4).

  • 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). Allegany County's score of 44.6 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Allegany 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 Allegany County?

    Allegany County, New York has a population of approximately 46,651 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.