Orange County, New York

County Distress Index: Elevated · 54.5 | 407,470 people · 7th most distressed in New York
American Default Research

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Orange County, NY registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 54.5 — 1312th 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 7th of 62 counties. Among its 8 neighboring counties, 5 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Orange County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 93.8 — worse than roughly 94% of U.S. counties.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 93.8
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 97
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 97
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 99
Homeownership Rate 76
Economic Vitality 72.4
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 95
Rent-to-Income Ratio 82
Business Formation Rate 23
House Price Change (YoY) 23
Legal Distress 55.5
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 56
Consumer Credit Distress 39.9
Debt in Collections 32
Medical Debt 7
Auto Loan Delinquency 49
Credit Card Delinquency 63
Uninsured Rate 15
Subprime Credit Population 53
Structural Poverty 28.2
Unemployment Rate 45
Poverty Rate 43
Income vs. State Median 8
Child Poverty Rate 57
Disability Rate 11
Transfer Income Dependency 21

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Orange County
Orange County, NY 54.5 Elevated —
Passaic County, NJ 68.0 Serious +13.5
Pike County, PA 59.5 Elevated +5.0
Sullivan County, NY 56.3 Elevated +1.9
Ulster County, NY 48.9 Normal -5.6
Rockland County, NY 44.1 Normal -10.4
Dutchess County, NY 43.7 Normal -10.8
Sussex County, NJ 41.8 Normal -12.6
Putnam County, NY 34.3 Healthy -20.1

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Orange County
Lane County, OR 54.4 Elevated -0.1
Fort Bend County, TX 54.3 Elevated -0.1
Durham County, NC 54.3 Elevated -0.2
Canyon County, ID 54.8 Elevated +0.4
Erie County, PA 54.8 Elevated +0.4

Download Data

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

Find Help in Orange County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Orange County.

PATHSTONE CORPORATION- NEWBURGH, NY
Newburgh
845-569-0770 Website
Foreclosure PreventionFinancial CounselingHome Improvement/RehabPre-Lease/Pre-Purchase
RUPCO INC.
Walden
845-331-2140 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 Orange 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 Orange County, New York?

    Orange County has a County Distress Index score of 54.5 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 1,312th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 7th in New York out of 62 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Orange County?

    The primary driver of distress in Orange County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 93.8 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Orange County compare to neighboring counties?

    Orange County (54.5) can be compared to its 8 neighboring counties: Passaic County, NJ (68.0); Pike County, PA (59.5); Sullivan County, NY (56.3).

  • 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). Orange County's score of 54.5 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Orange 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 Orange County?

    Orange County, New York has a population of approximately 407,470 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a large county.