Richmond County, New York

County Distress Index: Elevated · 50.1 | 490,687 people · 22nd most distressed in New York
American Default Research

Behind on your mortgage or facing eviction? Take a 2-minute assessment to see your options.

Richmond County, NY registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 50.1 — 1569th 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 22nd of 62 counties. Among its 6 neighboring counties, 4 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Richmond County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 92.4 — worse than roughly 92% of U.S. counties.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 92.4
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 94
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 96
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 95
Homeownership Rate 78
Economic Vitality 79.6
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 99
Rent-to-Income Ratio 99
Business Formation Rate 31
House Price Change (YoY) 17
Legal Distress 46.9
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 47
Structural Poverty 36.4
Unemployment Rate 78
Poverty Rate 47
Income vs. State Median 8
Child Poverty Rate 48
Disability Rate 7
Transfer Income Dependency 46
Consumer Credit Distress 29.1
Debt in Collections 28
Medical Debt 7
Auto Loan Delinquency 35
Credit Card Delinquency 43
Uninsured Rate 7
Subprime Credit Population 38

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Richmond County
Richmond County, NY 50.1 Elevated —
Hudson County, NJ 61.3 Elevated +11.2
Union County, NJ 58.9 Elevated +8.8
Kings County, NY 58.6 Elevated +8.5
Queens County, NY 55.8 Elevated +5.7
Middlesex County, NJ 46.0 Normal -4.1
Monmouth County, NJ 39.3 Normal -10.8

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Richmond County
Monroe County, NY 50.2 Elevated +0.1
Weld County, CO 50.4 Elevated +0.2
Multnomah County, OR 50.4 Elevated +0.3
Collier County, FL 49.8 Normal -0.3
Suffolk County, MA 50.5 Elevated +0.4

Download Data

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

Find Help in Richmond County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Richmond County.

NEIGHBORHOODS FOR A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE fka NHS of Staten Island
Staten Island
718-313-4890
Foreclosure PreventionMortgage HelpPre-PurchaseHomebuyer Education
NORTHFIELD COMMUNITY LOCAL DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION OF STATEN ISLAND, INC.
Staten Island
718-442-7351 Website
Foreclosure PreventionHome Improvement/RehabPre-PurchaseRental 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 Richmond 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 →

Continue Reading

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the distress score for Richmond County, New York?

    Richmond County has a County Distress Index score of 50.1 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 1,569th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 22nd in New York out of 62 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Richmond County?

    The primary driver of distress in Richmond County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 92.4 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Richmond County compare to neighboring counties?

    Richmond County (50.1) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Hudson County, NJ (61.3); Union County, NJ (58.9); Kings County, NY (58.6).

  • 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). Richmond County's score of 50.1 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Richmond 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 Richmond County?

    Richmond County, New York has a population of approximately 490,687 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a large county.