New York County, New York

County Distress Index: Normal · 40.4 | 1,597,451 people · 50th most distressed in New York
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Manhattan's composite score of 39.3 reads Normal. For an island where a studio apartment rents for more than most Americans' monthly mortgage, Normal requires some explanation. The answer is averaging. Median household income runs 47% above the state median, pulling the Income & Poverty domain to a moderate 45.4. But within that average: a 16.5% poverty rate, 70th percentile nationally. Child poverty at 20.1%. The median is doing a lot of lifting. Housing Cost Burden registers at 77.1, and the details are more revealing than the composite. Homeownership: 24.7% — lower than 99.9% of American counties. Rent-to-income ratio: 34.6%, 98.8th percentile. Three-quarters of Manhattan residents rent, and more than four in ten of those renters are cost-burdened. The borough has among the highest wages in the country and among the highest housing burdens. Both statements are true simultaneously because the wage distribution has almost no middle. One bridge north, the Bronx scores 77.7 — Serious zone, 21st most distressed county in the United States. Manhattan: 2,393rd. A 38-point gap across a river. The composite treats them as separate data points. The economy treats them as the same labor market.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. New York County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 77.2 — worse than roughly 77% of U.S. counties.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 77.2
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 78
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 82
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 27
Homeownership Rate 99
Economic Vitality 42.7
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 14
Rent-to-Income Ratio 99
Business Formation Rate 1
House Price Change (YoY) 99
Structural Poverty 32.4
Unemployment Rate 80
Poverty Rate 70
Income vs. State Median 5
Child Poverty Rate 61
Disability Rate 13
Transfer Income Dependency 1
Legal Distress 28.9
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 29
Consumer Credit Distress 26.8
Debt in Collections 14
Medical Debt 7
Auto Loan Delinquency 70
Credit Card Delinquency 26
Uninsured Rate 11
Subprime Credit Population 24

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. New York County
New York County, NY 40.4 Normal —
Bronx County, NY 79.7 Serious +39.3
Hudson County, NJ 61.3 Elevated +20.9
Kings County, NY 58.6 Elevated +18.3
Queens County, NY 55.8 Elevated +15.4
Bergen County, NJ 41.3 Normal +0.9

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. New York County
Montgomery County, MD 40.3 Normal -0.1
Alameda County, CA 39.3 Normal -1.1
Allegheny County, PA 41.6 Normal +1.2
Oakland County, MI 38.1 Normal -2.3
Hennepin County, MN 37.5 Normal -2.9

Download Data

Export all distress indicators for New York County as a CSV file.

Find Help in New York County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near New York County.

ASIAN AMERICANS FOR EQUALITY
New York
212-964-2288 Website
Financial CounselingFair HousingPost-PurchasePre-Lease/Pre-Purchase
GREENPATH FINANCIAL WELLNESS
New York
212-336-9400 Website
Foreclosure PreventionFinancial CounselingHomeless/DisplacementPre-Purchase
HARLEM COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
NEW YORK
212-961-4100 Website
Pre-PurchaseHomebuyer Education
HARLEM CONGREGATIONS FOR COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT
New York
212-281-4887 Website
Foreclosure PreventionMortgage HelpFinancial CounselingFinancial Counseling
HOUSING PARTNERSHIP DEVELOPMENT CORP.
New York
646-217-3370 Website
Pre-PurchaseHomebuyer Education

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 New York 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 New York County, New York?

    New York County has a County Distress Index score of 40.4 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 2,167th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 50th in New York out of 62 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in New York County?

    The primary driver of distress in New York County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 77.2 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does New York County compare to neighboring counties?

    New York County (40.4) can be compared to its 5 neighboring counties: Bronx County, NY (79.7); Hudson County, NJ (61.3); Kings County, NY (58.6).

  • 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). New York County's score of 40.4 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

  • What data sources power New York County's CDI score?

    New York 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 New York County?

    New York County, New York has a population of approximately 1,597,451 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a metro county.