Franklin County, New York

County Distress Index: Normal · 42.7 | 46,502 people · 43rd most distressed in New York
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Franklin County, NY falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 42.7 — 2030th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Structural Poverty, where income and poverty levels indicate moderate economic strain. Within New York, it ranks 43rd of 62 counties. Its score is in the middle of its 4 neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Franklin County's primary driver is Structural Poverty at 60.5 — above the national median.

Structural Poverty Primary driver 60.5
Unemployment Rate 64
Poverty Rate 59
Income vs. State Median 68
Child Poverty Rate 53
Disability Rate 61
Transfer Income Dependency 57
Housing Cost Burden 47.4
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 46
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 44
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 36
Homeownership Rate 66
Consumer Credit Distress 38.6
Debt in Collections 40
Medical Debt 7
Auto Loan Delinquency 33
Credit Card Delinquency 55
Uninsured Rate 36
Subprime Credit Population 51
Legal Distress 35.7
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 36
Economic Vitality 31.2
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 4
Rent-to-Income Ratio 36
Business Formation Rate 97
House Price Change (YoY) 30

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Franklin County
Franklin County, NY 42.7 Normal —
Clinton County, NY 52.9 Elevated +10.3
St. Lawrence County, NY 50.0 Elevated +7.3
Essex County, NY 41.4 Normal -1.3
Hamilton County, NY 31.1 Healthy -11.6

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Franklin County
Jasper County, IA 42.7 Normal +0.0
Lincoln County, MT 42.8 Normal +0.1
Avery County, NC 42.5 Normal -0.1
Rusk County, WI 42.5 Normal -0.1
Orange County, VA 42.9 Normal +0.2

Download Data

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

Find Help in Franklin 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 Franklin 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 Franklin County, New York?

    Franklin County has a County Distress Index score of 42.7 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 2,030th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 43rd in New York out of 62 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Franklin County?

    The primary driver of distress in Franklin County is Structural Poverty, where the county scores 60.5 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Unemployment Rate, Poverty Rate, Income vs. State Median.

  • How does Franklin County compare to neighboring counties?

    Franklin County (42.7) can be compared to its 4 neighboring counties: Clinton County, NY (52.9); St. Lawrence County, NY (50.0); Essex County, NY (41.4).

  • 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). Franklin County's score of 42.7 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Franklin 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 Franklin County?

    Franklin County, New York has a population of approximately 46,502 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.