Kings County, New York

County Distress Index: Elevated · 58.6 | 2,561,225 people · 4th most distressed in New York
American Default Research

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Kings County is Brooklyn. It's also the seventh most populous county in the United States and one of the most expensive places to rent in the country. The wage-to-rent ratio registers at the 99.9th percentile — functionally the highest in the dataset. Homeownership rate sits at the 99.8th percentile for burden, meaning almost no one owns. What makes Brooklyn's profile distinct is that the distress isn't isolated in housing. Income & Poverty scores 64.2. Child poverty hits the 83.9th percentile. Unemployment ranks at the 87.4th percentile. This is a county where high housing costs coexist with high poverty in the same ZIP codes — not because gentrification hasn't arrived, but because it sits alongside deep pockets of economic exclusion. The borough's transformation didn't erase the distress. It layered new housing costs on top of existing poverty. Brooklyn scores 56.8 overall (Elevated), ranking 1,089th nationally and 7th among New York's 62 counties. Its neighbor across the East River, Queens County, scores 53.3. Hudson County, New Jersey — visible from the Brooklyn waterfront — hits 60.2. Community Vulnerability, at 17.9, is the one bright spot: insurance coverage is better than most of the country. The safety net catches some of what the housing market doesn't.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Kings County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 89.9 — worse than roughly 90% of U.S. counties.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 89.9
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 90
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 91
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 74
Homeownership Rate 99
Economic Vitality 77.0
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 99
Rent-to-Income Ratio 99
Business Formation Rate 6
House Price Change (YoY) 37
Structural Poverty 49.4
Unemployment Rate 87
Poverty Rate 82
Income vs. State Median 26
Child Poverty Rate 84
Disability Rate 8
Transfer Income Dependency 34
Consumer Credit Distress 46.0
Debt in Collections 35
Medical Debt 7
Auto Loan Delinquency 69
Credit Card Delinquency 61
Uninsured Rate 28
Subprime Credit Population 58
Legal Distress 40.0
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 40

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Kings County
Kings County, NY 58.6 Elevated —
Hudson County, NJ 61.3 Elevated +2.7
Queens County, NY 55.8 Elevated -2.8
Richmond County, NY 50.1 Elevated -8.5
New York County, NY 40.4 Normal -18.3

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Kings County
Los Angeles County, CA 58.3 Elevated -0.4
Palm Beach County, FL 59.5 Elevated +0.9
Cook County, IL 57.7 Elevated -1.0
Mecklenburg County, NC 57.6 Elevated -1.0
Maricopa County, AZ 60.7 Elevated +2.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Kings County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Kings County.

BROOKLYN NEIGHBORHOOD IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION
Brooklyn
718-773-4116 Website
Foreclosure PreventionMortgage HelpRental Help
COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION OF SOUTHERN BROOKLYN
Brooklyn
718-435-1300 Website
Foreclosure PreventionPre-Purchase
CYPRESS HILLS LOCAL DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION CHLDC
Brooklyn
718-647-2800 Website
Foreclosure PreventionMortgage HelpFinancial CounselingFinancial Counseling
HOUSING AND FAMILY SERVICES OF GREATER NEW YORK, INC.
Brooklyn
718-435-7585 Website
Foreclosure PreventionMortgage HelpFinancial CounselingFinancial Counseling
MHANY MANAGEMENT, INC., A MUTUAL HOUSING ORGANIZATION
Brooklyn
718-246-8080 Website
Foreclosure PreventionMortgage HelpFinancial CounselingFinancial Counseling

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 Kings 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 Kings County, New York?

    Kings County has a County Distress Index score of 58.6 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 1,038th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 4th in New York out of 62 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Kings County?

    The primary driver of distress in Kings County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 89.9 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Kings County compare to neighboring counties?

    Kings County (58.6) can be compared to its 4 neighboring counties: Hudson County, NJ (61.3); Queens County, NY (55.8); Richmond County, NY (50.1).

  • 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). Kings County's score of 58.6 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Kings 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 Kings County?

    Kings County, New York has a population of approximately 2,561,225 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a metro county.