Fulton County, New York

County Distress Index: Elevated · 53.9 | 52,234 people · 8th most distressed in New York
American Default Research

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Fulton County, NY registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 53.9 — 1344th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Legal Distress, where bankruptcy filing rates are well above the national average. Within New York, it ranks 8th of 62 counties. Among its 4 neighboring counties, 3 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Fulton County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 74.6 — above the national median.

Legal Distress Primary driver 74.6
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 75
Structural Poverty 64.0
Unemployment Rate 67
Poverty Rate 54
Income vs. State Median 69
Child Poverty Rate 62
Disability Rate 63
Transfer Income Dependency 67
Housing Cost Burden 62.3
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 61
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 65
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 42
Homeownership Rate 73
Economic Vitality 47.2
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 39
Rent-to-Income Ratio 46
Business Formation Rate 91
House Price Change (YoY) 8
Consumer Credit Distress 45.1
Debt in Collections 56
Medical Debt 7
Auto Loan Delinquency 44
Credit Card Delinquency 57
Uninsured Rate 5
Subprime Credit Population 65

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Fulton County
Fulton County, NY 53.9 Elevated —
Montgomery County, NY 64.6 Elevated +10.7
Herkimer County, NY 49.3 Normal -4.6
Hamilton County, NY 31.1 Healthy -22.8
Saratoga County, NY 30.9 Healthy -23.0

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Fulton County
Mendocino County, CA 53.9 Elevated +0.0
Georgetown County, SC 53.8 Elevated -0.0
Wise County, TX 54.0 Elevated +0.1
Logan County, OK 54.0 Elevated +0.2
Schenectady County, NY 53.7 Elevated -0.2

Download Data

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

Find Help in Fulton 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 Fulton 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 Fulton County, New York?

    Fulton County has a County Distress Index score of 53.9 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 1,344th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 8th in New York out of 62 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Fulton County?

    The primary driver of distress in Fulton County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 74.6 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Fulton County compare to neighboring counties?

    Fulton County (53.9) can be compared to its 4 neighboring counties: Montgomery County, NY (64.6); Herkimer County, NY (49.3); Hamilton County, NY (31.1).

  • 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 Elevated 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). Fulton County's score of 53.9 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Fulton 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 Fulton County?

    Fulton County, New York has a population of approximately 52,234 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.