Broome County, New York

County Distress Index: Elevated · 51.1 | 196,077 people · 18th most distressed in New York
American Default Research

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Broome County, NY registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 51.1 — 1518th 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 18th of 62 counties. It scores higher than all 6 of its neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Broome County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 84.2 — worse than roughly 84% of U.S. counties.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 84.2
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 85
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 92
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 53
Homeownership Rate 85
Structural Poverty 59.5
Unemployment Rate 64
Poverty Rate 72
Income vs. State Median 68
Child Poverty Rate 60
Disability Rate 49
Transfer Income Dependency 47
Legal Distress 39.0
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 39
Economic Vitality 38.0
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 17
Rent-to-Income Ratio 48
Business Formation Rate 90
House Price Change (YoY) 14
Consumer Credit Distress 37.7
Debt in Collections 45
Medical Debt 7
Auto Loan Delinquency 43
Credit Card Delinquency 55
Uninsured Rate 5
Subprime Credit Population 44

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Broome County
Broome County, NY 51.1 Elevated —
Cortland County, NY 51.0 Elevated -0.1
Chenango County, NY 45.3 Normal -5.8
Tioga County, NY 44.2 Normal -6.9
Delaware County, NY 43.6 Normal -7.5
Wayne County, PA 43.4 Normal -7.7
Susquehanna County, PA 40.7 Normal -10.4

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Broome County
Lawrence County, PA 51.1 Elevated +0.0
Tuscarawas County, OH 51.1 Elevated -0.0
Schuylkill County, PA 51.2 Elevated +0.1
Wilson County, TX 51.2 Elevated +0.1
Roane County, TN 51.0 Elevated -0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Broome County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Broome County.

METRO-INTERFAITH HOUSING MANAGEMENT CORPORATION DBA METRO INTERFAITH SERVICES
Binghamton
607-772-6766-302 Website
Foreclosure PreventionHomeless/DisplacementPost-PurchasePre-Purchase

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 Broome 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 Broome County, New York?

    Broome County has a County Distress Index score of 51.1 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 1,518th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 18th in New York out of 62 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Broome County?

    The primary driver of distress in Broome County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 84.2 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Broome County compare to neighboring counties?

    Broome County (51.1) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Cortland County, NY (51.0); Chenango County, NY (45.3); Tioga County, NY (44.2).

  • 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). Broome County's score of 51.1 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Broome 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 Broome County?

    Broome County, New York has a population of approximately 196,077 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.