Dutchess County, New York

County Distress Index: Normal · 43.7 | 297,150 people · 38th most distressed in New York
American Default Research

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Dutchess County, NY falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 43.7 — 1973rd 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 38th of 62 counties. Among its 5 neighboring counties, 3 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Dutchess County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 86.3 — worse than roughly 86% of U.S. counties.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 86.3
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 90
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 85
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 96
Homeownership Rate 75
Economic Vitality 72.3
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 89
Rent-to-Income Ratio 78
Business Formation Rate 44
House Price Change (YoY) 23
Legal Distress 50.6
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 51
Consumer Credit Distress 25.4
Debt in Collections 26
Medical Debt 7
Auto Loan Delinquency 26
Credit Card Delinquency 38
Uninsured Rate 10
Subprime Credit Population 33
Structural Poverty 14.7
Unemployment Rate 30
Poverty Rate 7
Income vs. State Median 7
Child Poverty Rate 7
Disability Rate 24
Transfer Income Dependency 17

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Dutchess County
Dutchess County, NY 43.7 Normal —
Orange County, NY 54.5 Elevated +10.8
Berkshire County, MA 49.6 Normal +5.9
Ulster County, NY 48.9 Normal +5.2
Columbia County, NY 38.4 Normal -5.3
Putnam County, NY 34.3 Healthy -9.3

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Dutchess County
Polk County, IA 43.6 Normal -0.1
Kent County, MI 43.5 Normal -0.2
Albany County, NY 43.5 Normal -0.2
Plymouth County, MA 43.4 Normal -0.3
Rockland County, NY 44.1 Normal +0.4

Download Data

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

Find Help in Dutchess County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Dutchess County.

HUDSON RIVER HOUSING
Poughkeepsie
845-454-5176 Website
Foreclosure PreventionFinancial CounselingHomeless/DisplacementPost-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 Dutchess 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 Dutchess County, New York?

    Dutchess County has a County Distress Index score of 43.7 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 1,973rd nationally out of 3,144 counties and 38th in New York out of 62 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Dutchess County?

    The primary driver of distress in Dutchess County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 86.3 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Dutchess County compare to neighboring counties?

    Dutchess County (43.7) can be compared to its 5 neighboring counties: Orange County, NY (54.5); Berkshire County, MA (49.6); Ulster County, NY (48.9).

  • 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). Dutchess County's score of 43.7 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Dutchess 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 Dutchess County?

    Dutchess County, New York has a population of approximately 297,150 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a large county.