Lewis County, New York

County Distress Index: Normal · 35.4 | 26,548 people · 58th most distressed in New York
American Default Research

Behind on your mortgage or facing eviction? Take a 2-minute assessment to see your options.

Lewis County, NY falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 35.4 — 2456th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Housing Cost Burden, where housing costs consume a moderate share of household income. Within New York, it ranks 58th of 62 counties. It scores lower than all 5 of its neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Lewis County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 47.9 — above the national median.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 47.9
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 44
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 63
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 53
Homeownership Rate 17
Structural Poverty 46.3
Unemployment Rate 78
Poverty Rate 29
Income vs. State Median 64
Child Poverty Rate 37
Disability Rate 41
Transfer Income Dependency 32
Economic Vitality 34.0
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 22
Rent-to-Income Ratio 24
Business Formation Rate 81
House Price Change (YoY) 32
Consumer Credit Distress 30.7
Debt in Collections 21
Medical Debt 7
Auto Loan Delinquency 52
Credit Card Delinquency 48
Uninsured Rate 16
Subprime Credit Population 31
Legal Distress 9.2
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 9

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Lewis County
Lewis County, NY 35.4 Normal —
Oswego County, NY 53.0 Elevated +17.6
Jefferson County, NY 51.6 Elevated +16.2
Oneida County, NY 50.3 Elevated +14.9
St. Lawrence County, NY 50.0 Elevated +14.6
Herkimer County, NY 49.3 Normal +13.9

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Lewis County
Richland County, ND 35.3 Normal -0.1
Harvey County, KS 35.3 Normal -0.1
Marshall County, IA 35.3 Normal -0.1
Martin County, MN 35.5 Normal +0.1
Green Lake County, WI 35.2 Normal -0.2

Download Data

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

Find Help in Lewis 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 Lewis 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 →

Continue Reading

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the distress score for Lewis County, New York?

    Lewis County has a County Distress Index score of 35.4 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 2,456th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 58th in New York out of 62 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Lewis County?

    The primary driver of distress in Lewis County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 47.9 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Lewis County compare to neighboring counties?

    Lewis County (35.4) can be compared to its 5 neighboring counties: Oswego County, NY (53.0); Jefferson County, NY (51.6); 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). Lewis County's score of 35.4 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Lewis 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 Lewis County?

    Lewis County, New York has a population of approximately 26,548 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.