Madison County, New York

County Distress Index: Normal · 41.0 | 66,921 people · 48th most distressed in New York
American Default Research

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Madison County, NY falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 41.0 — 2131st 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 48th of 62 counties. Among its 6 neighboring counties, 5 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Madison County's primary driver is Economic Vitality at 71.8 — above the national median.

Economic Vitality Primary driver 71.8
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 78
Rent-to-Income Ratio 65
Business Formation Rate 95
House Price Change (YoY) 13
Housing Cost Burden 59.5
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 58
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 74
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 65
Homeownership Rate 27
Legal Distress 56.4
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 56
Structural Poverty 33.3
Unemployment Rate 61
Poverty Rate 29
Income vs. State Median 33
Child Poverty Rate 25
Disability Rate 23
Transfer Income Dependency 34
Consumer Credit Distress 26.1
Debt in Collections 31
Medical Debt 7
Auto Loan Delinquency 21
Credit Card Delinquency 37
Uninsured Rate 3
Subprime Credit Population 38

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Madison County
Madison County, NY 41.0 Normal —
Oswego County, NY 53.0 Elevated +12.0
Cortland County, NY 51.0 Elevated +10.0
Oneida County, NY 50.3 Elevated +9.3
Onondaga County, NY 47.6 Normal +6.7
Chenango County, NY 45.3 Normal +4.4
Otsego County, NY 36.8 Normal -4.1

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Madison County
Wood County, OH 41.0 Normal +0.0
Iron County, UT 41.0 Normal +0.0
Eaton County, MI 40.8 Normal -0.1
Napa County, CA 40.8 Normal -0.2
St. Mary's County, MD 40.8 Normal -0.2

Download Data

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

Find Help in Madison 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 Madison 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 Madison County, New York?

    Madison County has a County Distress Index score of 41.0 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 2,131st nationally out of 3,144 counties and 48th in New York out of 62 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Madison County?

    The primary driver of distress in Madison County is Economic Vitality, where the county scores 71.8 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Wage-to-Rent Ratio, Rent-to-Income Ratio, Business Formation Rate.

  • How does Madison County compare to neighboring counties?

    Madison County (41.0) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Oswego County, NY (53.0); Cortland County, NY (51.0); 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). Madison County's score of 41.0 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Madison 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 Madison County?

    Madison County, New York has a population of approximately 66,921 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.