Jefferson County, New York

County Distress Index: Elevated · 51.6 | 114,787 people · 14th most distressed in New York
American Default Research

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Jefferson County, NY registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 51.6 — 1476th 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 14th 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. Jefferson County's primary driver is Economic Vitality at 74.5 — above the national median.

Economic Vitality Primary driver 74.5
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 81
Rent-to-Income Ratio 90
Business Formation Rate 47
House Price Change (YoY) 47
Housing Cost Burden 67.6
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 70
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 54
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 62
Homeownership Rate 97
Structural Poverty 54.3
Unemployment Rate 78
Poverty Rate 48
Income vs. State Median 74
Child Poverty Rate 55
Disability Rate 41
Transfer Income Dependency 34
Consumer Credit Distress 40.6
Debt in Collections 45
Medical Debt 7
Auto Loan Delinquency 44
Credit Card Delinquency 43
Uninsured Rate 27
Subprime Credit Population 59
Legal Distress 40.5
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 41

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Jefferson County
Jefferson County, NY 51.6 Elevated —
Oswego County, NY 53.0 Elevated +1.4
St. Lawrence County, NY 50.0 Elevated -1.6
Cayuga County, NY 44.2 Normal -7.4
Lewis County, NY 35.4 Normal -16.2

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Jefferson County
Seneca County, OH 51.6 Elevated +0.0
Chautauqua County, NY 51.6 Elevated -0.0
Woodbury County, IA 51.5 Elevated -0.1
Cattaraugus County, NY 51.5 Elevated -0.1
Ascension Parish, LA 51.7 Elevated +0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Jefferson County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Jefferson County.

NEIGHBORS OF WATERTOWN, INC.
Watertown
315-782-8497 Website
Foreclosure PreventionFinancial CounselingHome Improvement/RehabPre-Purchase

See all counselors in New York →

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 Jefferson 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 Jefferson County, New York?

    Jefferson County has a County Distress Index score of 51.6 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 1,476th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 14th in New York out of 62 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Jefferson County?

    The primary driver of distress in Jefferson County is Economic Vitality, where the county scores 74.5 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Wage-to-Rent Ratio, Rent-to-Income Ratio, Business Formation Rate.

  • How does Jefferson County compare to neighboring counties?

    Jefferson County (51.6) can be compared to its 4 neighboring counties: Oswego County, NY (53.0); St. Lawrence County, NY (50.0); Cayuga County, NY (44.2).

  • 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). Jefferson County's score of 51.6 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Jefferson 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 Jefferson County?

    Jefferson County, New York has a population of approximately 114,787 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.