Otsego County, New York

County Distress Index: Normal · 36.8 | 60,126 people · 55th most distressed in New York
American Default Research

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Otsego County, NY falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 36.8 — 2375th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Economic Vitality, where employment and wage conditions show moderate stress. Within New York, it ranks 55th of 62 counties. It scores lower than all 7 of its neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Otsego County's primary driver is Economic Vitality at 58.2 — above the national median.

Economic Vitality Primary driver 58.2
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 46
Rent-to-Income Ratio 68
Business Formation Rate 91
House Price Change (YoY) 29
Structural Poverty 54.1
Unemployment Rate 74
Poverty Rate 56
Income vs. State Median 67
Child Poverty Rate 54
Disability Rate 30
Transfer Income Dependency 45
Housing Cost Burden 52.6
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 60
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 46
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 53
Homeownership Rate 51
Legal Distress 37.6
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 38
Consumer Credit Distress 20.2
Debt in Collections 25
Medical Debt 7
Auto Loan Delinquency 6
Credit Card Delinquency 39
Uninsured Rate 13
Subprime Credit Population 23

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Otsego County
Otsego County, NY 36.8 Normal —
Montgomery County, NY 64.6 Elevated +27.8
Oneida County, NY 50.3 Elevated +13.4
Herkimer County, NY 49.3 Normal +12.5
Chenango County, NY 45.3 Normal +8.5
Delaware County, NY 43.6 Normal +6.8
Madison County, NY 41.0 Normal +4.1
Schoharie County, NY 40.0 Normal +3.2

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Otsego County
Jefferson County, WV 36.8 Normal -0.1
McLean County, IL 36.9 Normal +0.1
Franklin County, VT 36.9 Normal +0.1
La Plata County, CO 36.4 Normal -0.4
Sauk County, WI 37.3 Normal +0.5

Download Data

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

Find Help in Otsego 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 Otsego 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 Otsego County, New York?

    Otsego County has a County Distress Index score of 36.8 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 2,375th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 55th in New York out of 62 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Otsego County?

    The primary driver of distress in Otsego County is Economic Vitality, where the county scores 58.2 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Wage-to-Rent Ratio, Rent-to-Income Ratio, Business Formation Rate.

  • How does Otsego County compare to neighboring counties?

    Otsego County (36.8) can be compared to its 7 neighboring counties: Montgomery County, NY (64.6); Oneida County, NY (50.3); Herkimer County, NY (49.3).

  • 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 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). Otsego County's score of 36.8 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Otsego 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 Otsego County?

    Otsego County, New York has a population of approximately 60,126 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.