About one in six people in Broome County, New York, lives below the poverty line
In Broome County, 15.9% of people lived below the poverty line. That is higher than in 69% of U.S. counties.
More distressed than 60% of U.S. counties.
What drives Broome County's score
In Broome County, housing costs weigh most: the score for housing costs is 80.4. About one in four renters (27.4%, 2020 to 2024) pays half their income or more in rent, a higher share than in 92% of U.S. counties. Jobs come next, at 63.6.
The County Distress Index looks at five parts of household money trouble in Broome 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.
Broome County does better than most counties on two measures: people without health insurance (3.4%, 2020 to 2024) and bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people (105.6, 2025).
A longer bar means more trouble. See how the county score works.
- 80.4 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 rent27.4% · 2020 to 202492nd percentile
- Rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income22.6% · fiscal year 202768th percentile
-
- 63.6 of 100
Jobs
Unemployment through Sep 2026; adults not working, 2020–24 Census survey
- Unemployment rate, average over the latest year4.5% · Oct 2025 to Sep 202664th percentile
- Adults 25 to 54 not working22.8% · 2020 to 202462nd percentile
-
- 48.9 of 100
Late payments
Credit records, August 2025; credit scores, second quarter of 2026
- People with a credit card behind5.8% · August 202555th percentile
- People with a car or retail loan behind4.7% · August 202542nd percentile
- People with a subprime credit score39.8% · second quarter of 202648th percentile
-
- 47.6 of 100
Income and safety net
Poverty and income, 2024; disability and insurance, 2020–24 Census survey
- People below the poverty line15.9% · 202470th percentile
- Children below the poverty line18.3% · 202456th percentile
- People with a disability16.1% · 2020 to 202451st percentile
- People without health insurance3.4% · 2020 to 20244th percentile
- Median household income (lower income, longer bar)$64,727 · 202455th percentile
-
- 42.1 of 100
Collections and bankruptcy
Credit records, August 2025; bankruptcy filings, 2025
- People with unpaid debt sent to a collector21.8% · August 202545th percentile
- Bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people105.6 · 202539th percentile
-
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 Broome 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 Broome County, 20.3% of residents are 65 or older (Census Bureau, 2024), against 17.2% nationally that year.
Cents of every dollar of income, 2024
Broome County
New York
United States
- Pay from work
- Investments and rent
- Benefit checks
In Broome County, benefit checks' share of income has tripled since 1969, reaching 26.4% in 2024, but pay from work still brings in twice as much as benefit checks
In Broome County, New York, benefit checks' share of income tripled from 1969 to 2024, reaching 26.4%; pay from work is plotted alongside. Every fifth year and 2024 are shown.
- Benefit checks
- Pay from work
The share of households in Broome County getting SNAP food aid had its largest rise, from 11.5% in 2011 to 13.2% in 2012.
The share of households in Broome County getting SNAP food aid rose by more than half from 2009 to 2024, reaching 15.4%
High on the chart: 16.3% in 2016. Households getting SNAP, every year; each bar is a five-year survey estimate ending that year, so neighboring bars share most of their data, Broome County, New York.
How Broome County has changed
Broome County's population fell 12% from 1969 to 2024, reaching its lowest on the chart
Biggest drop: 1994 to 1999, reaching 200,881. Residents, yearly estimate, every fifth year and 2024, Broome County, New York.
The number of jobs located in Broome County had its largest drop, from 86,310 in 2015 to 77,296 in 2020.
The number of jobs located in Broome County fell by about a quarter from 1990 to 2020, reaching 77,296, then turned up in 2025
High on the chart: 102,867 in 1990. Yearly average of jobs covered by unemployment insurance, every fifth year and 2025, Broome County, New York.
| Measure | Then | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rateBLS LAUS | 1990 4.2% | 2025 4.2% |
| People below the poverty lineCensus SAIPE | 1989 7.4% | 2024 15.9% |
| Median household incomeCensus SAIPE | 1989 $29,139 | 2024 $64,727 |
The table uses 4.2% for 2025; the score uses 4.5% 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 Broome County's history
1806
On March 28, 1806, Broome County was formed by splitting several towns off from Tioga County. Wikipedia
1970
The county's largest recorded population was the 1970 Census count of 221,815. The 2020 Census counted 198,683, 90% of the peak. Census Bureau
2003
A flash flood in June 2003 killed five people. NOAA Storm Events Database
2006
A flash flood in June 2006 did $200 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2011
A flood in September 2011 did $170 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2011
A flood in September 2011 did $160 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
-
Since 1970
30 federal disaster and emergency declarations have covered Broome County, 13 of them for flooding. FEMA
Broome County beside its neighbors
Broome County scores higher than all six counties that border it, in New York and Pennsylvania. For the share of income from benefit checks, Broome County ranks 4th of the seven; Delaware County is highest, at 29.6%.
| County | Score | Poverty | Benefit checks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Broome County, NY | 60 | 15.9% | 26.4% |
| Wayne County, PA | 48 | 13.0% | 28.4% |
| Cortland County, NY | 45 | 14.7% | 26.3% |
| Chenango County, NY | 42 | 12.1% | 27.7% |
| Delaware County, NY | 42 | 12.7% | 29.6% |
| Susquehanna County, PA | 41 | 12.1% | 25.8% |
| Tioga County, NY | 41 | 10.8% | 25.0% |
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 Broome County the poorest county in New York?
No, Broome County's poverty rate was 15.9% in 2024, 11th highest of 62 in New York (U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates). By that measure the poorest county in the state is Bronx County, at 28.7%. On our distress index, which counts more than poverty, Broome County ranks 8th of 62 in the state.
If you're behind on your mortgage in Broome 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.
-
Metro-interfaith Housing Management Corporation Dba Metro Interfaith Services
HUD-approved housing counselor
-
Legal Aid Society of Mid-New York
Legal aid
-
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 Broome 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 Broome County comes from, 2024.
- History The agencies named in each row and the linked records above.