Onondaga County, New York

County Distress Index: Normal · 47.6 | 467,873 people · 28th most distressed in New York
American Default Research

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Onondaga County, NY falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 47.6 — 1739th 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 28th of 62 counties. Its score is in the middle of its 4 neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Onondaga County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 83.9 — worse than roughly 84% of U.S. counties.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 83.9
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 85
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 91
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 59
Homeownership Rate 83
Legal Distress 51.8
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 52
Economic Vitality 50.5
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 41
Rent-to-Income Ratio 63
Business Formation Rate 73
House Price Change (YoY) 16
Structural Poverty 37.8
Unemployment Rate 41
Poverty Rate 50
Income vs. State Median 31
Child Poverty Rate 57
Disability Rate 31
Transfer Income Dependency 25
Consumer Credit Distress 32.3
Debt in Collections 36
Medical Debt 7
Auto Loan Delinquency 42
Credit Card Delinquency 41
Uninsured Rate 3
Subprime Credit Population 40

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Onondaga County
Onondaga County, NY 47.6 Normal —
Oswego County, NY 53.0 Elevated +5.3
Cortland County, NY 51.0 Elevated +3.3
Cayuga County, NY 44.2 Normal -3.4
Madison County, NY 41.0 Normal -6.7

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Onondaga County
Ramsey County, MN 47.6 Normal +0.0
Spokane County, WA 47.7 Normal +0.0
Anchorage Municipality, AK 47.6 Normal -0.0
Cherokee County, GA 47.3 Normal -0.3
Ocean County, NJ 47.3 Normal -0.3

Download Data

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

Find Help in Onondaga County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Onondaga County.

HOME HEADQUARTERS, INC.
Syracuse
315-474-1939 Website
Foreclosure PreventionFinancial CounselingFair HousingHome Improvement/Rehab
Syracuse Cooperative Federal Credit Union
Syracuse
315-476-5290 Website
Foreclosure PreventionFinancial CounselingFinancial CounselingPre-Purchase

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 Onondaga 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 Onondaga County, New York?

    Onondaga County has a County Distress Index score of 47.6 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 1,739th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 28th in New York out of 62 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Onondaga County?

    The primary driver of distress in Onondaga County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 83.9 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Onondaga County compare to neighboring counties?

    Onondaga County (47.6) can be compared to its 4 neighboring counties: Oswego County, NY (53.0); Cortland County, NY (51.0); Cayuga County, NY (44.2).

  • 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). Onondaga County's score of 47.6 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Onondaga 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 Onondaga County?

    Onondaga County, New York has a population of approximately 467,873 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a large county.