Chenango County, New York

County Distress Index: Normal · 45.3 | 45,920 people · 30th most distressed in New York
American Default Research

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Chenango County, NY falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 45.3 — 1880th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Legal Distress, where bankruptcy filing rates are well above the national average. Within New York, it ranks 30th of 62 counties. Among its 5 neighboring counties, 3 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Chenango County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 65.0 — above the national median.

Legal Distress Primary driver 65.0
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 65
Structural Poverty 63.8
Unemployment Rate 52
Poverty Rate 56
Income vs. State Median 86
Child Poverty Rate 55
Disability Rate 74
Transfer Income Dependency 53
Housing Cost Burden 51.9
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 58
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 49
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 61
Homeownership Rate 40
Consumer Credit Distress 36.9
Debt in Collections 40
Medical Debt 7
Auto Loan Delinquency 54
Credit Card Delinquency 43
Uninsured Rate 4
Subprime Credit Population 46
Economic Vitality 29.7
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 3
Rent-to-Income Ratio 43
Business Formation Rate 89
House Price Change (YoY) 8

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Chenango County
Chenango County, NY 45.3 Normal —
Broome County, NY 51.1 Elevated +5.8
Cortland County, NY 51.0 Elevated +5.7
Delaware County, NY 43.6 Normal -1.7
Madison County, NY 41.0 Normal -4.4
Otsego County, NY 36.8 Normal -8.5

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Chenango County
Kittitas County, WA 45.3 Normal 0.0
Appomattox County, VA 45.4 Normal +0.0
Beltrami County, MN 45.4 Normal +0.1
Perry County, MO 45.3 Normal -0.1
Osage County, KS 45.4 Normal +0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Chenango County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Chenango County.

OPPORTUNITIES FOR CHENANGO, INC.
Norwich
607-334-7114 Website
Pre-PurchaseHomebuyer EducationRental Help

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 Chenango 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 Chenango County, New York?

    Chenango County has a County Distress Index score of 45.3 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 1,880th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 30th in New York out of 62 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Chenango County?

    The primary driver of distress in Chenango County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 65.0 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Chenango County compare to neighboring counties?

    Chenango County (45.3) can be compared to its 5 neighboring counties: Broome County, NY (51.1); Cortland County, NY (51.0); Delaware County, NY (43.6).

  • 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). Chenango County's score of 45.3 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Chenango 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 Chenango County?

    Chenango County, New York has a population of approximately 45,920 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.