Monroe County, New York

County Distress Index: Elevated · 50.2 | 748,482 people · 21st most distressed in New York
American Default Research

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Monroe County, NY registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 50.2 — 1560th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Housing Cost Burden, where a large share of households spend more than 30% of income on housing. Within New York, it ranks 21st of 62 counties. Among its 5 neighboring counties, 4 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Monroe County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 86.9 — worse than roughly 87% of U.S. counties.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 86.9
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 89
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 89
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 70
Homeownership Rate 88
Economic Vitality 67.4
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 72
Rent-to-Income Ratio 84
Business Formation Rate 53
House Price Change (YoY) 21
Structural Poverty 39.5
Unemployment Rate 49
Poverty Rate 47
Income vs. State Median 34
Child Poverty Rate 49
Disability Rate 37
Transfer Income Dependency 30
Consumer Credit Distress 36.5
Debt in Collections 43
Medical Debt 7
Auto Loan Delinquency 47
Credit Card Delinquency 48
Uninsured Rate 3
Subprime Credit Population 44
Legal Distress 26.6
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 27

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Monroe County
Monroe County, NY 50.2 Elevated —
Orleans County, NY 51.9 Elevated +1.6
Wayne County, NY 41.7 Normal -8.5
Livingston County, NY 41.5 Normal -8.7
Genesee County, NY 38.9 Normal -11.4
Ontario County, NY 35.9 Normal -14.4

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Monroe County
Richmond County, NY 50.1 Elevated -0.1
Weld County, CO 50.4 Elevated +0.1
Multnomah County, OR 50.4 Elevated +0.2
Suffolk County, MA 50.5 Elevated +0.3
Collier County, FL 49.8 Normal -0.4

Download Data

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

Find Help in Monroe County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Monroe County.

BISHOP SHEEN ECUMENICAL HOUSING FOUNDATION
Fairport
585-461-4263 Website
Home Improvement/RehabPre-PurchaseHomebuyer Education
CCCS OF ROCHESTER-HOME OFFICE
Rochester
888-724-2227
Foreclosure PreventionFinancial CounselingFinancial CounselingPost-Purchase
NSC (NACA COUNSELING SUBSIDIARY) - ROCHESTER, NY
Rochester
703-234-6222 Website
Mortgage HelpFinancial CounselingFair HousingHome Improvement/Rehab
PATHSTONE CORPORATION- NEW YORK
ROCHESTER
585-546-3700 Website
Foreclosure PreventionMortgage HelpFinancial CounselingFair Housing
THE HOUSING COUNCIL AT PATHSTONE, INC.
Rochester
585-546-3700 Website
Foreclosure PreventionFinancial CounselingFinancial CounselingHome Improvement/Rehab

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 Monroe 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 Monroe County, New York?

    Monroe County has a County Distress Index score of 50.2 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 1,560th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 21st in New York out of 62 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Monroe County?

    The primary driver of distress in Monroe County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 86.9 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Monroe County compare to neighboring counties?

    Monroe County (50.2) can be compared to its 5 neighboring counties: Orleans County, NY (51.9); Wayne County, NY (41.7); Livingston County, NY (41.5).

  • 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). Monroe County's score of 50.2 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Monroe 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 Monroe County?

    Monroe County, New York has a population of approximately 748,482 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a large county.