Hamilton County, New York

County Distress Index: Healthy · 31.1 | 5,082 people · 60th most distressed in New York
American Default Research

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Hamilton County, NY ranks among the least distressed counties in the country at 31.1 — 2693rd nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Economic Vitality, where wages are low relative to housing costs, business formation lags, and the local economy lacks dynamism. Within New York, it ranks 60th of 62 counties. Among its 7 neighboring counties, 6 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

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

Economic Vitality Primary driver 74.6
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 91
Rent-to-Income Ratio 80
Business Formation Rate 50
House Price Change (YoY) 23
Structural Poverty 48.5
Unemployment Rate 95
Poverty Rate 25
Income vs. State Median 51
Child Poverty Rate 29
Disability Rate 49
Transfer Income Dependency 47
Legal Distress 45.9
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 46
Housing Cost Burden 45.8
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 37
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 79
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 17
Homeownership Rate 9
Consumer Credit Distress 8.4
Debt in Collections 5
Medical Debt 7
Auto Loan Delinquency 12
Credit Card Delinquency 5
Uninsured Rate 6
Subprime Credit Population 14

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Hamilton County
Hamilton County, NY 31.1 Healthy —
Fulton County, NY 53.9 Elevated +22.8
St. Lawrence County, NY 50.0 Elevated +18.9
Herkimer County, NY 49.3 Normal +18.2
Warren County, NY 48.4 Normal +17.4
Franklin County, NY 42.7 Normal +11.6
Essex County, NY 41.4 Normal +10.3
Saratoga County, NY 30.9 Healthy -0.2

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Hamilton County
Petroleum County, MT 31.1 Healthy -0.0
Forest County, PA 31.1 Healthy +0.1
Custer County, ID 31.0 Healthy -0.1
Putnam County, IL 31.0 Healthy -0.1
Walworth County, SD 31.3 Healthy +0.2

Download Data

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

Find Help in Hamilton 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 Hamilton 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 Hamilton County, New York?

    Hamilton County has a County Distress Index score of 31.1 out of 100, placing it in the Healthy zone. It ranks 2,693rd nationally out of 3,144 counties and 60th in New York out of 62 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Hamilton County?

    The primary driver of distress in Hamilton County is Economic Vitality, where the county scores 74.6 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Wage-to-Rent Ratio, Rent-to-Income Ratio, Business Formation Rate.

  • How does Hamilton County compare to neighboring counties?

    Hamilton County (31.1) can be compared to its 7 neighboring counties: Fulton County, NY (53.9); St. Lawrence County, NY (50.0); Herkimer County, NY (49.3).

  • 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 Healthy 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). Hamilton County's score of 31.1 sits in the Healthy zone (below 46).

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

    Hamilton 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 Hamilton County?

    Hamilton County, New York has a population of approximately 5,082 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a tiny county.