In Martin County, Florida, benefit checks make up only 14 cents of every dollar of income
In Martin County, 13.6% of all the income people there received came from benefit checks. That is lower than in 94% of U.S. counties.
Less distressed than 54% of U.S. counties.
What drives Martin County's score
In Martin County, housing costs are the highest-scoring part, at 93.9. Late payments on loans are the lowest part, at 17.1. People with a credit card behind: 3.3%, August 2025, lower than in 85% of U.S. counties.
The County Distress Index looks at five parts of household money trouble in Martin County: jobs, late payments on loans, income and the safety net, collections and bankruptcy, and housing costs. Each part is scored from 0 to 100, and a higher score means worse off than other counties.
Even so, Martin County is worse off than most counties on renters paying half their income or more in rent (33.6%, 2020 to 2024) and rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income (26.3%, fiscal year 2027).
A longer bar means more trouble. See how the county score works.
- 93.9 of 100
Housing costs
Biggest factorRenters, 2020–24 Census survey; HUD's fair market rents, fiscal year 2027
- Renters paying half their income or more in rent33.6% · 2020 to 202499th percentile
- Rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income26.3% · fiscal year 202788th percentile
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- 66.6 of 100
Jobs
Unemployment through Sep 2026; adults not working, 2020–24 Census survey
- Unemployment rate, average over the latest year4.9% · Oct 2025 to Sep 202678th percentile
- Adults 25 to 54 not working21.5% · 2020 to 202454th percentile
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- 31.1 of 100
Collections and bankruptcy
Credit records, August 2025; bankruptcy filings, 2025
- People with unpaid debt sent to a collector16.6% · August 202524th percentile
- Bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people102.3 · 202537th percentile
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- 28.5 of 100
Income and safety net
Poverty and income, 2024; disability and insurance, 2020–24 Census survey
- People below the poverty line8.6% · 202412th percentile
- Children below the poverty line11.5% · 202420th percentile
- People with a disability14.2% · 2020 to 202432nd percentile
- People without health insurance10.5% · 2020 to 202469th percentile
- Median household income (lower income, longer bar)$94,583 · 20247th percentile
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- 17.2 of 100
Late payments
Credit records, August 2025; credit scores, second quarter of 2026
- People with a credit card behind3.3% · August 202514th percentile
- People with a car or retail loan behind3.2% · August 202518th percentile
- People with a subprime credit score31.5% · second quarter of 202618th percentile
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Sources: Urban Institute, Debt in America; Equifax via the St. Louis Fed; Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, Table F-5A; U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey; U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Fair Market Rents and Census income; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates. County Distress Index by American Default Research, from data through Sep 2026.
Where the money in Martin County comes from
Benefit checks are Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid paid on people's behalf, veterans' benefits, and food and income support, so a high share usually means an older population, low pay, or both. In Martin County, 32.2% of residents are 65 or older (Census Bureau, 2024), against 17.2% nationally that year.
Cents of every dollar of income, 2024
Martin County
Florida
United States
- Pay from work
- Investments and rent
- Benefit checks
Benefit checks' share of income in Martin County had its largest rise, from 12.8% in 2004 to 15.7% in 2009.
In Martin County, pay from work still brings in more than twice as much as benefit checks, with little change in benefit checks' share since 1969
In Martin County, Florida, benefit checks' share of income rose from 1969 to 2024, reaching 13.6%; pay from work is plotted alongside. Every fifth year and 2024 are shown.
- Benefit checks
- Pay from work
The share of households in Martin County getting SNAP food aid had its largest rise, from 4.7% in 2011 to 6.6% in 2012.
The share of households in Martin County getting SNAP food aid was at its highest on the chart in 2014 and has since fallen by about a fifth
Low on the chart: 3.6% in 2009. Households getting SNAP, every year; each bar is a five-year survey estimate ending that year, so neighboring bars share most of their data, Martin County, Florida.
How Martin County has changed
Martin County's population had its largest rise, from 27,121 in 1969 to 46,302 in 1974.
Martin County's population grew to about six times its 1969 size in 2024, reaching 165,666, with no dip in any year shown
Smallest rise: 2004 to 2009, reaching 145,506. Residents, yearly estimate, every fifth year and 2024, Martin County, Florida.
The jobs count covers work located in the county; the population count covers residents.
The number of jobs located in Martin County doubled to 77,918, the highest on the chart
Biggest rise: 2020 to 2025, reaching 77,918. Yearly average of jobs covered by unemployment insurance, every fifth year and 2025, Martin County, Florida.
| Measure | Then | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rateBLS LAUS | 1990 7.6% | 2025 4.2% |
| People below the poverty lineCensus SAIPE | 1989 7.1% | 2024 8.6% |
| Median household incomeCensus SAIPE | 1989 $30,281 | 2024 $94,583 |
The table uses 4.2% for 2025; the score uses 4.9% for the latest year (Oct 2025 to Sep 2026), both from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Figures are as each agency published them, not adjusted for prices.
Dated events in Martin County's history
1995
A thunderstorm in February 1995 killed one person. NOAA Storm Events Database
2016
Lightning in March 2016 killed one person. NOAA Storm Events Database
2017
Lightning in May 2017 killed one person. NOAA Storm Events Database
2020
The county's largest recorded population was the 2020 Census count of 158,431, which is also its most recent census. Census Bureau
2024
A tornado in October 2024 did $11 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
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Since 1965
37 federal disaster and emergency declarations have covered Martin County, 2 of them for flooding. FEMA
Martin County beside its neighbors
All three counties that border Martin County score higher than it does. For the share of income from benefit checks, Martin County ranks 3rd of the four; Okeechobee County is highest, at 34.1%.
| County | Score | Poverty | Benefit checks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Okeechobee County, FL | 87 | 17.0% | 34.1% |
| St. Lucie County, FL | 82 | 11.5% | 26.3% |
| Palm Beach County, FL | 62 | 11.7% | 11.2% |
| Martin County, FL | 45 | 8.6% | 13.6% |
Distress score: American Default Research, County Distress Index, data through Sep 2026; each county scored against all 3,144. Poverty rate: Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates, 2024. Benefit checks: Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024. Neighbors share a border, from Census county maps.
Is Martin County the poorest county in Florida?
No, Martin County's poverty rate was 8.6% in 2024, 65th highest of 67 in Florida (U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates). By that measure the poorest county in the state is Hamilton County, at 25.3%. On our distress index, which counts more than poverty, Martin County ranks 63rd of 67 in the state.
If you're behind on your mortgage in Martin County
Housing counselors approved by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development work at nonprofit agencies. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau describes free foreclosure-avoidance counseling, including help with mortgage-company conversations and available options Source CFPB.
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Debt Management Credit Counseling Corp.
HUD-approved housing counselor
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Florida Rural Legal Services (FRLS)
Legal aid
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HUD-approved housing counselors
Our help directory lists 1,010 agencies approved for foreclosure counseling, by state.
The score, its 14 measures and their sources, in one file. Free to use with credit to American Default Research.
Download the CSV for Martin County · Every U.S. county (CSV)
Sources and method
- American Default Research · County Distress Index Data through Sep 2026, built from Urban Institute, Debt in America; Equifax via the St. Louis Fed; U.S. Courts, Table F-5A; Census Bureau, American Community Survey; HUD Fair Market Rents and Census income; Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates. The County Distress Index is American Default Research's own calculation; the Urban Institute does not produce or endorse it. Our methodology
- Urban Institute · Debt in America Breno Braga, Signe-Mary McKernan, Samantha Atherton, and Kassandra Martinchek, "Debt in America," last updated November 20, 2025, https://datacatalog.urban.org/dataset/debt-america-2025. Licensed under ODC-By 1.0.
- Rent on a two-bedroom and household income The rent share compares HUD fair market rent for fiscal year 2027 with Census Bureau median household income for 2024. The page calls this the typical household's income.
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Economic Accounts (CAINC4) · income shares Where the money in Martin County comes from, 2024.
- History The agencies named in each row and the linked records above.