Niagara County, New York

County Distress Index: Normal · 48.8 | 209,457 people · 26th most distressed in New York
American Default Research

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Niagara County, NY falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 48.8 — 1659th 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 26th of 62 counties. Among its 3 neighboring counties, 2 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Niagara County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 75.3 — worse than roughly 75% of U.S. counties.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 75.3
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 79
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 80
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 60
Homeownership Rate 67
Economic Vitality 71.2
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 75
Rent-to-Income Ratio 77
Business Formation Rate 77
House Price Change (YoY) 21
Structural Poverty 54.3
Unemployment Rate 69
Poverty Rate 52
Income vs. State Median 60
Child Poverty Rate 61
Disability Rate 44
Transfer Income Dependency 44
Legal Distress 45.4
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 45
Consumer Credit Distress 31.0
Debt in Collections 41
Medical Debt 7
Auto Loan Delinquency 20
Credit Card Delinquency 49
Uninsured Rate 1
Subprime Credit Population 42

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Niagara County
Niagara County, NY 48.8 Normal —
Orleans County, NY 51.9 Elevated +3.1
Erie County, NY 46.4 Normal -2.4
Genesee County, NY 38.9 Normal -9.9

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Niagara County
Cambria County, PA 48.8 Normal -0.0
Lapeer County, MI 48.8 Normal +0.0
Bartholomew County, IN 48.9 Normal +0.1
Ulster County, NY 48.9 Normal +0.1
Columbia County, OR 48.7 Normal -0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Niagara 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 Niagara 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 Niagara County, New York?

    Niagara County has a County Distress Index score of 48.8 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 1,659th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 26th in New York out of 62 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Niagara County?

    The primary driver of distress in Niagara County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 75.3 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Niagara County compare to neighboring counties?

    Niagara County (48.8) can be compared to its 3 neighboring counties: Orleans County, NY (51.9); Erie County, NY (46.4); Genesee County, NY (38.9).

  • 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). Niagara County's score of 48.8 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Niagara 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 Niagara County?

    Niagara County, New York has a population of approximately 209,457 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.