Ontario County, New York

County Distress Index: Normal · 35.9 | 112,494 people · 57th most distressed in New York
American Default Research

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Ontario County, NY falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 35.9 — 2426th 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 57th of 62 counties. It scores lower than all 6 of its neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Ontario County's primary driver is Economic Vitality at 72.3 — above the national median.

Economic Vitality Primary driver 72.3
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 78
Rent-to-Income Ratio 72
Business Formation Rate 86
House Price Change (YoY) 17
Housing Cost Burden 63.7
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 70
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 59
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 66
Homeownership Rate 58
Structural Poverty 24.6
Unemployment Rate 41
Poverty Rate 8
Income vs. State Median 21
Child Poverty Rate 11
Disability Rate 42
Transfer Income Dependency 26
Consumer Credit Distress 22.0
Debt in Collections 26
Medical Debt 7
Auto Loan Delinquency 27
Credit Card Delinquency 26
Uninsured Rate 3
Subprime Credit Population 29
Legal Distress 16.8
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 17

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Ontario County
Ontario County, NY 35.9 Normal —
Seneca County, NY 53.1 Elevated +17.2
Monroe County, NY 50.2 Elevated +14.4
Steuben County, NY 43.4 Normal +7.6
Yates County, NY 43.3 Normal +7.4
Wayne County, NY 41.7 Normal +5.8
Livingston County, NY 41.5 Normal +5.7

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Ontario County
Somerset County, PA 35.9 Normal +0.0
Tazewell County, IL 35.8 Normal -0.1
Platte County, MO 35.7 Normal -0.2
Grand Forks County, ND 35.7 Normal -0.2
Johnson County, IA 36.1 Normal +0.3

Download Data

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

Find Help in Ontario County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Ontario County.

PATHSTONE CORPORATION- CANANDAIGUA, NY
Canandaigua
585-626-4097 Website
Foreclosure PreventionMortgage HelpFinancial CounselingFinancial Counseling

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 Ontario 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 Ontario County, New York?

    Ontario County has a County Distress Index score of 35.9 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 2,426th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 57th in New York out of 62 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Ontario County?

    The primary driver of distress in Ontario County is Economic Vitality, where the county scores 72.3 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Wage-to-Rent Ratio, Rent-to-Income Ratio, Business Formation Rate.

  • How does Ontario County compare to neighboring counties?

    Ontario County (35.9) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Seneca County, NY (53.1); Monroe County, NY (50.2); Steuben County, NY (43.4).

  • 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). Ontario County's score of 35.9 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Ontario 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 Ontario County?

    Ontario County, New York has a population of approximately 112,494 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.