Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region, Connecticut

County Distress Index: Elevated · 53.4 | 279,634 people · 2nd most distressed in Connecticut
American Default Research

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Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region, CT registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 53.4 — 1344th 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 Connecticut, it ranks 2nd of 9 counties. Its strongest area is Community Vulnerability, where health coverage and disability rates are better than the national average.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five domains of financial distress. Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 85.2 — worse than roughly 85% of U.S. counties.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 85.2
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 84
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 74
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 95
Homeownership Rate 83
Rent-to-Income Ratio 89
Employment & Wages 70.9
Unemployment Rate 58
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 85
Business Formation Rate 70
Income & Poverty 51.7
Poverty Rate 41
Income vs. State Median 72
Child Poverty Rate 43
Debt & Delinquency 34.8
Debt in Collections 44
Medical Debt 22
Student Loan Delinquency 43
Auto Loan Delinquency 34
Credit Card Delinquency 58
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 6
Community Vulnerability 24.2
Uninsured Rate 12
Disability Rate 36

Scores are percentile-based: 50 = national median, higher = more distressed. The median line is shown on each bar.

Neighbors and Peers

How Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region compares to its population peers.

Population Peers

County Score Zone vs. Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region
Berks County, PA 53.7 Elevated +0.4
Forsyth County, NC 53.0 Elevated -0.4
Jackson County, MO 52.9 Elevated -0.4
Manatee County, FL 53.8 Elevated +0.4
Gwinnett County, GA 52.8 Elevated -0.6

Download Data

Export all distress indicators for Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region as a CSV file.

Find Help in Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region

Find an Attorney

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

Connecticut Bar Association — Lawyer Referral Service 860-223-4400

Free Legal Aid

Legal aid organizations serving Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region residents at no cost.

Connecticut Legal Services (CLS) 1-800-453-3320 (statewide intake)
Greater Hartford Legal Aid 860-541-5000
New Haven Legal Assistance Association (NHLAA) 203-946-4811
Statewide Legal Services of Connecticut 1-800-453-3320

American Default Research does not endorse, rate, or rank any provider. Verify attorney credentials with your state bar.

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the distress score for Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region, Connecticut?

    Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region has a County Distress Index score of 53.4 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 1,344th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 2nd in Connecticut out of 9 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region?

    The primary driver of distress in Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 85.2 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region compare to neighboring counties?

    Neighbor comparison data is not available for Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region.

  • How is the County Distress Index calculated?

    The County Distress Index uses percentile-rank averaging across five domains: Debt & Delinquency, Income & Poverty, Housing Cost Burden, Employment & Wages, and Community Vulnerability. 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.

  • What is the population of Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region?

    Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region, Connecticut has a population of approximately 279,634 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a large county.