Ulster County, New York

County Distress Index: Normal · 48.9 | 182,333 people · 25th most distressed in New York
American Default Research

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Ulster County, NY falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 48.9 — 1651st 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 25th of 62 counties. Among its 6 neighboring counties, 4 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Ulster County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 90.9 — worse than roughly 91% of U.S. counties.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 90.9
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 95
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 97
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 86
Homeownership Rate 71
Economic Vitality 76.6
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 93
Rent-to-Income Ratio 84
Business Formation Rate 34
House Price Change (YoY) 56
Legal Distress 45.4
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 45
Structural Poverty 30.0
Unemployment Rate 41
Poverty Rate 43
Income vs. State Median 14
Child Poverty Rate 25
Disability Rate 34
Transfer Income Dependency 31
Consumer Credit Distress 29.8
Debt in Collections 28
Medical Debt 7
Auto Loan Delinquency 32
Credit Card Delinquency 44
Uninsured Rate 34
Subprime Credit Population 32

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Ulster County
Ulster County, NY 48.9 Normal —
Sullivan County, NY 56.3 Elevated +7.5
Orange County, NY 54.5 Elevated +5.6
Greene County, NY 43.8 Normal -5.1
Dutchess County, NY 43.7 Normal -5.2
Delaware County, NY 43.6 Normal -5.3
Columbia County, NY 38.4 Normal -10.5

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Ulster County
Bartholomew County, IN 48.9 Normal -0.0
Lapeer County, MI 48.8 Normal -0.0
Saline County, KS 49.0 Normal +0.1
Laramie County, WY 49.0 Normal +0.1
Niagara County, NY 48.8 Normal -0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Ulster County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Ulster County.

RUPCO INC.
Kingston
845-331-2140 Website
Foreclosure PreventionFinancial CounselingFinancial CounselingPre-Purchase
RUPCO, INC.
Kingston
845-331-2140 Website
Foreclosure PreventionFinancial CounselingFinancial 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 Ulster 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 Ulster County, New York?

    Ulster County has a County Distress Index score of 48.9 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 1,651st nationally out of 3,144 counties and 25th in New York out of 62 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Ulster County?

    The primary driver of distress in Ulster County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 90.9 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Ulster County compare to neighboring counties?

    Ulster County (48.9) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Sullivan County, NY (56.3); Orange County, NY (54.5); 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). Ulster County's score of 48.9 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Ulster 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 Ulster County?

    Ulster County, New York has a population of approximately 182,333 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.