Cayuga County, New York

County Distress Index: Normal · 44.2 | 74,485 people · 32nd most distressed in New York
American Default Research

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Cayuga County, NY falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 44.2 — 1939th 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 32nd of 62 counties. Among its 7 neighboring counties, 5 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Cayuga County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 66.4 — above the national median.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 66.4
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 77
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 58
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 65
Homeownership Rate 63
Legal Distress 53.5
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 53
Structural Poverty 46.8
Unemployment Rate 45
Poverty Rate 48
Income vs. State Median 58
Child Poverty Rate 49
Disability Rate 35
Transfer Income Dependency 42
Economic Vitality 41.5
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 17
Rent-to-Income Ratio 42
Business Formation Rate 95
House Price Change (YoY) 58
Consumer Credit Distress 32.2
Debt in Collections 43
Medical Debt 7
Auto Loan Delinquency 13
Credit Card Delinquency 53
Uninsured Rate 11
Subprime Credit Population 45

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Cayuga County
Cayuga County, NY 44.2 Normal —
Seneca County, NY 53.1 Elevated +8.8
Oswego County, NY 53.0 Elevated +8.7
Jefferson County, NY 51.6 Elevated +7.4
Cortland County, NY 51.0 Elevated +6.7
Onondaga County, NY 47.6 Normal +3.4
Wayne County, NY 41.7 Normal -2.5
Tompkins County, NY 40.4 Normal -3.8

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Cayuga County
Limestone County, AL 44.2 Normal -0.0
Franklin County, MO 44.2 Normal -0.0
Carteret County, NC 44.3 Normal +0.1
Scott County, IA 44.2 Normal -0.1
Maui County, HI 44.1 Normal -0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Cayuga County

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 Cayuga 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 Cayuga County, New York?

    Cayuga County has a County Distress Index score of 44.2 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 1,939th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 32nd in New York out of 62 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Cayuga County?

    The primary driver of distress in Cayuga County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 66.4 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Cayuga County compare to neighboring counties?

    Cayuga County (44.2) can be compared to its 7 neighboring counties: Seneca County, NY (53.1); Oswego County, NY (53.0); Jefferson County, NY (51.6).

  • 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). Cayuga County's score of 44.2 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Cayuga 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 Cayuga County?

    Cayuga County, New York has a population of approximately 74,485 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.