Rensselaer County, New York

County Distress Index: Normal · 44.0 | 159,305 people · 35th most distressed in New York
American Default Research

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Rensselaer County, NY falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 44.0 — 1952nd 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 35th of 62 counties. Among its 7 neighboring counties, 5 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Rensselaer County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 73.5 — above the national median.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 73.5
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 75
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 64
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 81
Homeownership Rate 86
Economic Vitality 65.0
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 58
Rent-to-Income Ratio 78
Business Formation Rate 79
House Price Change (YoY) 33
Legal Distress 45.4
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 45
Structural Poverty 31.6
Unemployment Rate 41
Poverty Rate 41
Income vs. State Median 16
Child Poverty Rate 42
Disability Rate 35
Transfer Income Dependency 26
Consumer Credit Distress 29.5
Debt in Collections 38
Medical Debt 7
Auto Loan Delinquency 26
Credit Card Delinquency 44
Uninsured Rate 3
Subprime Credit Population 37

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Rensselaer County
Rensselaer County, NY 44.0 Normal —
Washington County, NY 51.3 Elevated +7.3
Berkshire County, MA 49.6 Normal +5.6
Greene County, NY 43.8 Normal -0.3
Albany County, NY 43.5 Normal -0.6
Bennington County, VT 43.0 Normal -1.0
Columbia County, NY 38.4 Normal -5.6
Saratoga County, NY 30.9 Healthy -13.1

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Rensselaer County
Alexandria city, VA 43.9 Normal -0.1
Boone County, IL 43.9 Normal -0.1
Maui County, HI 44.1 Normal +0.1
Franklin County, PA 43.9 Normal -0.1
Scott County, IA 44.2 Normal +0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Rensselaer County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Rensselaer County.

TROY REHABILITATION AND IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM
Troy
518-690-0020 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 Rensselaer 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 Rensselaer County, New York?

    Rensselaer County has a County Distress Index score of 44.0 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 1,952nd nationally out of 3,144 counties and 35th in New York out of 62 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Rensselaer County?

    The primary driver of distress in Rensselaer County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 73.5 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Rensselaer County compare to neighboring counties?

    Rensselaer County (44.0) can be compared to its 7 neighboring counties: Washington County, NY (51.3); Berkshire County, MA (49.6); Greene County, NY (43.8).

  • 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). Rensselaer County's score of 44.0 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Rensselaer 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 Rensselaer County?

    Rensselaer County, New York has a population of approximately 159,305 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.