Erie County, New York

County Distress Index: Normal · 46.4 | 946,147 people · 29th most distressed in New York
American Default Research

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Erie County, NY falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 46.4 — 1814th 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 29th 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. Erie County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 83.4 — worse than roughly 83% of U.S. counties.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 83.4
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 85
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 91
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 53
Homeownership Rate 83
Economic Vitality 51.2
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 41
Rent-to-Income Ratio 66
Business Formation Rate 67
House Price Change (YoY) 23
Structural Poverty 42.3
Unemployment Rate 55
Poverty Rate 55
Income vs. State Median 43
Child Poverty Rate 50
Disability Rate 30
Transfer Income Dependency 28
Legal Distress 37.5
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 38
Consumer Credit Distress 30.8
Debt in Collections 39
Medical Debt 7
Auto Loan Delinquency 27
Credit Card Delinquency 48
Uninsured Rate 1
Subprime Credit Population 39

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Erie County
Erie County, NY 46.4 Normal —
Chautauqua County, NY 51.6 Elevated +5.2
Cattaraugus County, NY 51.5 Elevated +5.1
Niagara County, NY 48.8 Normal +2.4
Genesee County, NY 38.9 Normal -7.6
Wyoming County, NY 22.9 Healthy -23.5

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Erie County
York County, PA 46.1 Normal -0.4
Middlesex County, NJ 46.0 Normal -0.4
Madison County, IL 47.0 Normal +0.5
Clay County, MO 47.0 Normal +0.5
Thurston County, WA 45.8 Normal -0.7

Download Data

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

Find Help in Erie County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Erie County.

BELMONT HOUSING RESOURCES FOR WNY, INCORPORATED
Buffalo
716-884-7791 Website
Foreclosure PreventionFinancial CounselingFinancial CounselingHome Improvement/Rehab
BUFFALO URBAN LEAGUE, INC.
Buffalo
716-250-2400 Website
Foreclosure PreventionMortgage HelpFinancial CounselingFinancial Counseling
NSC (NACA COUNSELING SUBSIDIARY) - BUFFALO, NY
Buffalo
716-834-6222 Website
Foreclosure PreventionFinancial CounselingFair HousingPost-Purchase
OPERATION HOPE- BUFFALO NY BRANCH
Buffalo
716-342-5580 Website
Mortgage HelpFair HousingPre-PurchaseHomebuyer Education
Parachute Credit Counseling, Inc.
West Seneca
800-926-9685
Foreclosure PreventionFinancial CounselingFinancial CounselingPre-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 Erie 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 Erie County, New York?

    Erie County has a County Distress Index score of 46.4 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 1,814th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 29th in New York out of 62 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Erie County?

    The primary driver of distress in Erie County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 83.4 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Erie County compare to neighboring counties?

    Erie County (46.4) can be compared to its 5 neighboring counties: Chautauqua County, NY (51.6); Cattaraugus County, NY (51.5); Niagara County, NY (48.8).

  • 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). Erie County's score of 46.4 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Erie 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 Erie County?

    Erie County, New York has a population of approximately 946,147 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a large county.