Clinton County, New York

County Distress Index: Elevated · 52.9 | 78,115 people · 12th most distressed in New York
American Default Research

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Clinton County, NY registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 52.9 — 1406th 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 12th of 62 counties. It scores higher than all 4 of its neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Clinton County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 76.4 — worse than roughly 76% of U.S. counties.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 76.4
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 73
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 89
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 49
Homeownership Rate 74
Economic Vitality 61.6
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 52
Rent-to-Income Ratio 69
Business Formation Rate 95
House Price Change (YoY) 25
Structural Poverty 55.9
Unemployment Rate 52
Poverty Rate 51
Income vs. State Median 66
Child Poverty Rate 39
Disability Rate 65
Transfer Income Dependency 56
Legal Distress 49.6
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 50
Consumer Credit Distress 40.0
Debt in Collections 42
Medical Debt 7
Auto Loan Delinquency 42
Credit Card Delinquency 79
Uninsured Rate 1
Subprime Credit Population 42

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Clinton County
Clinton County, NY 52.9 Elevated —
Franklin County, NY 42.7 Normal -10.3
Essex County, NY 41.4 Normal -11.6
Grand Isle County, VT 35.4 Normal -17.5
Chittenden County, VT 32.2 Healthy -20.7

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Clinton County
Oswego County, NY 53.0 Elevated +0.0
Indian River County, FL 53.0 Elevated +0.0
Guadalupe County, TX 52.9 Elevated -0.0
Lycoming County, PA 52.8 Elevated -0.1
Williamson County, IL 52.8 Elevated -0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Clinton County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Clinton County.

FRIENDS OF THE NORTH COUNTRY
Cadyville
518-293-5045 Website
Foreclosure PreventionHome Improvement/RehabHomeless/DisplacementPre-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 Clinton 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 Clinton County, New York?

    Clinton County has a County Distress Index score of 52.9 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 1,406th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 12th in New York out of 62 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Clinton County?

    The primary driver of distress in Clinton County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 76.4 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Clinton County compare to neighboring counties?

    Clinton County (52.9) can be compared to its 4 neighboring counties: Franklin County, NY (42.7); Essex County, NY (41.4); Grand Isle County, VT (35.4).

  • 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 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). Clinton County's score of 52.9 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Clinton 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 Clinton County?

    Clinton County, New York has a population of approximately 78,115 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.