Northampton County, Pennsylvania

County Distress Index: Elevated · 53.0 | 319,091 people · 13th most distressed in Pennsylvania
American Default Research

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Northampton County, PA registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 53.0 — 1399th 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 Pennsylvania, it ranks 13th of 67 counties. Among its 5 neighboring counties, 3 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Northampton County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 77.2 — worse than roughly 77% of U.S. counties.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 77.3
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 86
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 69
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 91
Homeownership Rate 66
Economic Vitality 69.0
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 87
Rent-to-Income Ratio 69
Business Formation Rate 46
House Price Change (YoY) 24
Legal Distress 48.7
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 49
Consumer Credit Distress 47.8
Debt in Collections 43
Medical Debt 54
Auto Loan Delinquency 56
Credit Card Delinquency 64
Uninsured Rate 10
Subprime Credit Population 43
Structural Poverty 23.1
Unemployment Rate 49
Poverty Rate 19
Income vs. State Median 9
Child Poverty Rate 33
Disability Rate 18
Transfer Income Dependency 22

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Northampton County
Northampton County, PA 53.0 Elevated —
Monroe County, PA 68.2 Serious +15.2
Lehigh County, PA 61.2 Elevated +8.2
Carbon County, PA 56.2 Elevated +3.2
Warren County, NJ 43.8 Normal -9.2
Bucks County, PA 34.7 Healthy -18.3

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Northampton County
Monterey County, CA 53.1 Elevated +0.0
Butler County, OH 53.1 Elevated +0.0
Gloucester County, NJ 53.0 Elevated -0.1
Baldwin County, AL 52.8 Elevated -0.2
Stark County, OH 52.8 Elevated -0.3

Download Data

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

Find Help in Northampton County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Northampton County.

COMMUNITY ACTION COMMITTEE OF LEHIGH VALLEY, INC.
Bethlehem
610-691-5620 Website
Foreclosure PreventionMortgage HelpFinancial CounselingFinancial Counseling
GREATER COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
Easton
610-596-1134 Website
Financial CounselingPre-Purchase

See all counselors in Pennsylvania →

Find an Attorney

Pennsylvania Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service offers a lawyer referral service for bankruptcy, foreclosure defense, and consumer rights.

Pennsylvania Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service 1-800-932-0311

Free Legal Aid

Legal aid organizations serving Northampton County residents at no cost.

Community Legal Services of Philadelphia 215-981-3700
MidPenn Legal Services 1-800-326-9177
Neighborhood Legal Services Association 412-255-6700
Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network (PLAN)
Laurel Legal Services, Inc. (800) 253-9558
Legal Aid of Southeastern Pennsylvania (877) 429-5994
North Penn Legal Services, Inc. (877) 953-4250
Northwestern Legal Services (814) 452-6957
Philadelphia Legal Assistance Center (215) 981-3800
Summit Legal Aid (800) 846-0871

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 Pennsylvania →

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the distress score for Northampton County, Pennsylvania?

    Northampton County has a County Distress Index score of 53.0 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 1,399th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 13th in Pennsylvania out of 67 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Northampton County?

    The primary driver of distress in Northampton County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 77.2 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Northampton County compare to neighboring counties?

    Northampton County (53.0) can be compared to its 5 neighboring counties: Monroe County, PA (68.2); Lehigh County, PA (61.2); Carbon County, PA (56.2).

  • 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). Northampton County's score of 53.0 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Northampton 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 Northampton County?

    Northampton County, Pennsylvania has a population of approximately 319,091 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a large county.