Oswego County, New York

County Distress Index: Elevated · 53.0 | 118,162 people · 11th most distressed in New York
American Default Research

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Oswego County, NY registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 53.0 — 1404th 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 11th of 62 counties. It scores higher 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. Oswego County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 73.1 — above the national median.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 73.1
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 75
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 83
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 61
Homeownership Rate 53
Economic Vitality 70.4
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 65
Rent-to-Income Ratio 76
Business Formation Rate 96
House Price Change (YoY) 29
Legal Distress 59.0
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 59
Structural Poverty 55.9
Unemployment Rate 72
Poverty Rate 61
Income vs. State Median 49
Child Poverty Rate 55
Disability Rate 46
Transfer Income Dependency 57
Consumer Credit Distress 38.4
Debt in Collections 46
Medical Debt 7
Auto Loan Delinquency 34
Credit Card Delinquency 53
Uninsured Rate 11
Subprime Credit Population 53

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Oswego County
Oswego County, NY 53.0 Elevated —
Jefferson County, NY 51.6 Elevated -1.4
Oneida County, NY 50.3 Elevated -2.7
Onondaga County, NY 47.6 Normal -5.3
Cayuga County, NY 44.2 Normal -8.7
Madison County, NY 41.0 Normal -12.0
Lewis County, NY 35.4 Normal -17.6

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Oswego County
Indian River County, FL 53.0 Elevated +0.0
Clinton County, NY 52.9 Elevated -0.0
Guadalupe County, TX 52.9 Elevated -0.1
Lycoming County, PA 52.8 Elevated -0.1
Williamson County, IL 52.8 Elevated -0.2

Download Data

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

Find Help in Oswego County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Oswego County.

CITY OF FULTON COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AGENCY
Fulton
315-593-7166 Website
Foreclosure PreventionFinancial CounselingPost-PurchasePre-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 Oswego 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 Oswego County, New York?

    Oswego County has a County Distress Index score of 53.0 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 1,404th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 11th in New York out of 62 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Oswego County?

    The primary driver of distress in Oswego County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 73.1 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Oswego County compare to neighboring counties?

    Oswego County (53.0) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Jefferson County, NY (51.6); Oneida County, NY (50.3); Onondaga County, NY (47.6).

  • 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 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). Oswego County's score of 53.0 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Oswego 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 Oswego County?

    Oswego County, New York has a population of approximately 118,162 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.