Putnam County, New York

County Distress Index: Healthy · 34.3 | 98,060 people · 59th most distressed in New York
American Default Research

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Putnam County, NY ranks among the least distressed counties in the country at 34.3 — 2511th 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 59th of 62 counties. It scores lower than all 4 of its neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Putnam County's primary driver is Economic Vitality at 81.2 — worse than roughly 81% of U.S. counties.

Economic Vitality Primary driver 81.2
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 99
Rent-to-Income Ratio 93
Business Formation Rate 32
House Price Change (YoY) 50
Housing Cost Burden 79.1
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 93
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 90
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 99
Homeownership Rate 7
Legal Distress 40.1
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 40
Consumer Credit Distress 11.6
Debt in Collections 5
Medical Debt 7
Auto Loan Delinquency 23
Credit Card Delinquency 16
Uninsured Rate 3
Subprime Credit Population 12
Structural Poverty 5.6
Unemployment Rate 16
Poverty Rate 5
Income vs. State Median 1
Child Poverty Rate 3
Disability Rate 6
Transfer Income Dependency 6

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Putnam County
Putnam County, NY 34.3 Healthy —
Orange County, NY 54.5 Elevated +20.1
Rockland County, NY 44.1 Normal +9.8
Dutchess County, NY 43.7 Normal +9.3
Westchester County, NY 41.0 Normal +6.7

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Putnam County
Eagle County, CO 34.4 Healthy +0.0
Albemarle County, VA 34.4 Healthy +0.1
Island County, WA 34.3 Healthy -0.1
Lewis and Clark County, MT 34.4 Healthy +0.1
Roanoke County, VA 34.6 Healthy +0.3

Download Data

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

Find Help in Putnam County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Putnam County.

PUTNAM COUNTY HOUSING CORPORATION
Carmel
845-225-8493 Website
Foreclosure PreventionPre-PurchaseHomebuyer EducationRental Help

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 Putnam 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 Putnam County, New York?

    Putnam County has a County Distress Index score of 34.3 out of 100, placing it in the Healthy zone. It ranks 2,511th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 59th in New York out of 62 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Putnam County?

    The primary driver of distress in Putnam County is Economic Vitality, where the county scores 81.2 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Wage-to-Rent Ratio, Rent-to-Income Ratio, Business Formation Rate.

  • How does Putnam County compare to neighboring counties?

    Putnam County (34.3) can be compared to its 4 neighboring counties: Orange County, NY (54.5); Rockland County, NY (44.1); Dutchess County, NY (43.7).

  • 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 Healthy 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). Putnam County's score of 34.3 sits in the Healthy zone (below 46).

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

    Putnam 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 Putnam County?

    Putnam County, New York has a population of approximately 98,060 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.