Essex County, New York

County Distress Index: Normal · 41.4 | 36,775 people · 46th most distressed in New York
American Default Research

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Essex County, NY falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 41.4 — 2101st nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Housing Cost Burden, where housing costs consume a moderate share of household income. Within New York, it ranks 46th of 62 counties. Among its 7 neighboring counties, 4 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

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

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 65.0
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 80
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 68
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 58
Homeownership Rate 29
Economic Vitality 51.4
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 44
Rent-to-Income Ratio 40
Business Formation Rate 74
House Price Change (YoY) 81
Structural Poverty 48.6
Unemployment Rate 58
Poverty Rate 46
Income vs. State Median 42
Child Poverty Rate 43
Disability Rate 63
Transfer Income Dependency 45
Consumer Credit Distress 30.2
Debt in Collections 29
Medical Debt 7
Auto Loan Delinquency 31
Credit Card Delinquency 66
Uninsured Rate 14
Subprime Credit Population 24
Legal Distress 16.0
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 16

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Essex County
Essex County, NY 41.4 Normal —
Clinton County, NY 52.9 Elevated +11.6
Washington County, NY 51.3 Elevated +10.0
Warren County, NY 48.4 Normal +7.1
Franklin County, NY 42.7 Normal +1.3
Chittenden County, VT 32.2 Healthy -9.1
Hamilton County, NY 31.1 Healthy -10.3
Addison County, VT 26.7 Healthy -14.6

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Essex County
Muscatine County, IA 41.4 Normal +0.1
Uintah County, UT 41.3 Normal -0.1
Ketchikan Gateway Borough, AK 41.4 Normal +0.1
Jackson County, WI 41.5 Normal +0.1
Montrose County, CO 41.5 Normal +0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Essex County

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 Essex 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 Essex County, New York?

    Essex County has a County Distress Index score of 41.4 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 2,101st nationally out of 3,144 counties and 46th in New York out of 62 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Essex County?

    The primary driver of distress in Essex County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 65.0 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Essex County compare to neighboring counties?

    Essex County (41.4) can be compared to its 7 neighboring counties: Clinton County, NY (52.9); Washington County, NY (51.3); Warren County, NY (48.4).

  • 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 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). Essex County's score of 41.4 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Essex 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 Essex County?

    Essex County, New York has a population of approximately 36,775 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.