Herkimer County, New York

County Distress Index: Normal · 49.3 | 59,484 people · 24th most distressed in New York
American Default Research

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Herkimer County, NY falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 49.3 — 1619th 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 24th 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. Herkimer County's primary driver is Economic Vitality at 66.3 — above the national median.

Economic Vitality Primary driver 66.3
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 68
Rent-to-Income Ratio 59
Business Formation Rate 92
House Price Change (YoY) 33
Legal Distress 63.6
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 64
Structural Poverty 58.0
Unemployment Rate 69
Poverty Rate 55
Income vs. State Median 67
Child Poverty Rate 43
Disability Rate 49
Transfer Income Dependency 59
Housing Cost Burden 49.8
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 48
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 60
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 31
Homeownership Rate 42
Consumer Credit Distress 41.0
Debt in Collections 48
Medical Debt 7
Auto Loan Delinquency 37
Credit Card Delinquency 71
Uninsured Rate 12
Subprime Credit Population 47

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Herkimer County
Herkimer County, NY 49.3 Normal —
Montgomery County, NY 64.6 Elevated +15.3
Fulton County, NY 53.9 Elevated +4.6
Oneida County, NY 50.3 Elevated +1.0
St. Lawrence County, NY 50.0 Elevated +0.7
Otsego County, NY 36.8 Normal -12.5
Lewis County, NY 35.4 Normal -13.9
Hamilton County, NY 31.1 Healthy -18.2

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Herkimer County
Lancaster County, SC 49.3 Normal 0.0
Rock County, WI 49.2 Normal -0.0
Cumberland County, TN 49.2 Normal -0.1
Catawba County, NC 49.2 Normal -0.1
Blount County, TN 49.4 Normal +0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Herkimer 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 Herkimer 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 Herkimer County, New York?

    Herkimer County has a County Distress Index score of 49.3 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 1,619th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 24th in New York out of 62 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Herkimer County?

    The primary driver of distress in Herkimer County is Economic Vitality, where the county scores 66.3 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Wage-to-Rent Ratio, Rent-to-Income Ratio, Business Formation Rate.

  • How does Herkimer County compare to neighboring counties?

    Herkimer County (49.3) can be compared to its 7 neighboring counties: Montgomery County, NY (64.6); Fulton County, NY (53.9); Oneida County, NY (50.3).

  • 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 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). Herkimer County's score of 49.3 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Herkimer 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 Herkimer County?

    Herkimer County, New York has a population of approximately 59,484 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.