Columbia County, New York

County Distress Index: Normal · 38.4 | 60,470 people · 54th most distressed in New York
American Default Research

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Columbia County, NY falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 38.4 — 2286th 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 54th of 62 counties. It scores lower 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. Columbia County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 79.7 — worse than roughly 80% of U.S. counties.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 79.7
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 80
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 93
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 83
Homeownership Rate 45
Economic Vitality 66.3
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 82
Rent-to-Income Ratio 71
Business Formation Rate 41
House Price Change (YoY) 21
Structural Poverty 37.0
Unemployment Rate 30
Poverty Rate 51
Income vs. State Median 35
Child Poverty Rate 48
Disability Rate 41
Transfer Income Dependency 24
Consumer Credit Distress 17.5
Debt in Collections 13
Medical Debt 7
Auto Loan Delinquency 23
Credit Card Delinquency 28
Uninsured Rate 6
Subprime Credit Population 20
Legal Distress 16.3
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 16

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Columbia County
Columbia County, NY 38.4 Normal —
Berkshire County, MA 49.6 Normal +11.2
Ulster County, NY 48.9 Normal +10.5
Rensselaer County, NY 44.0 Normal +5.6
Greene County, NY 43.8 Normal +5.4
Dutchess County, NY 43.7 Normal +5.3
Albany County, NY 43.5 Normal +5.1

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Columbia County
Mason County, WA 38.4 Normal +0.0
Darke County, OH 38.3 Normal -0.1
Flathead County, MT 38.3 Normal -0.1
Tooele County, UT 38.5 Normal +0.1
Garfield County, CO 38.3 Normal -0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Columbia County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Columbia County.

GALVAN HOUSING RESOURCES, INC.
Hudson
518-822-0707
Foreclosure PreventionHome Improvement/RehabHomeless/DisplacementRental 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 Columbia 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 Columbia County, New York?

    Columbia County has a County Distress Index score of 38.4 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 2,286th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 54th in New York out of 62 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Columbia County?

    The primary driver of distress in Columbia County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 79.7 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Columbia County compare to neighboring counties?

    Columbia County (38.4) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Berkshire County, MA (49.6); Ulster County, NY (48.9); Rensselaer County, NY (44.0).

  • 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). Columbia County's score of 38.4 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Columbia 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 Columbia County?

    Columbia County, New York has a population of approximately 60,470 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.