Rockland County, New York

County Distress Index: Normal · 44.1 | 340,807 people · 34th most distressed in New York
American Default Research

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Rockland County, NY falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 44.1 — 1949th 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 34th of 62 counties. Among its 5 neighboring counties, 3 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Rockland County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 95.2 — worse than roughly 95% of U.S. counties.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 95.2
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 99
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 99
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 99
Homeownership Rate 77
Economic Vitality 76.6
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 99
Rent-to-Income Ratio 99
Business Formation Rate 5
House Price Change (YoY) 36
Legal Distress 46.1
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 46
Structural Poverty 27.0
Unemployment Rate 23
Poverty Rate 63
Income vs. State Median 3
Child Poverty Rate 74
Disability Rate 1
Transfer Income Dependency 16
Consumer Credit Distress 18.4
Debt in Collections 8
Medical Debt 7
Auto Loan Delinquency 25
Credit Card Delinquency 27
Uninsured Rate 12
Subprime Credit Population 26

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Rockland County
Rockland County, NY 44.1 Normal —
Passaic County, NJ 68.0 Serious +23.9
Orange County, NY 54.5 Elevated +10.4
Bergen County, NJ 41.3 Normal -2.8
Westchester County, NY 41.0 Normal -3.1
Putnam County, NY 34.3 Healthy -9.8

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Rockland County
Kane County, IL 44.5 Normal +0.4
Dutchess County, NY 43.7 Normal -0.4
Polk County, IA 43.6 Normal -0.5
Will County, IL 44.7 Normal +0.6
Kent County, MI 43.5 Normal -0.6

Download Data

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

Find Help in Rockland County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Rockland County.

ROCKLAND HOUSING ACTION COALITION
New City
845-708-5799 Website
Foreclosure PreventionMortgage HelpFinancial CounselingPre-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 Rockland 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 Rockland County, New York?

    Rockland County has a County Distress Index score of 44.1 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 1,949th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 34th in New York out of 62 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Rockland County?

    The primary driver of distress in Rockland County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 95.2 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Rockland County compare to neighboring counties?

    Rockland County (44.1) can be compared to its 5 neighboring counties: Passaic County, NJ (68.0); Orange County, NY (54.5); Bergen County, NJ (41.3).

  • 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). Rockland County's score of 44.1 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Rockland 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 Rockland County?

    Rockland County, New York has a population of approximately 340,807 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a large county.