Cayuga County, New York

County Distress Index: Normal · 45.3 | 74,485 people · 43rd most distressed in New York
American Default Research

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Cayuga County, NY falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 45.3 — 1961st nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Housing Cost Burden, where housing costs consume a moderate share of household income. Within New York, it ranks 43rd of 62 counties. Among its 7 neighboring counties, 6 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five domains of financial distress. Cayuga County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 60.9 — above the national median.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 60.9
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 77
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 58
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 65
Homeownership Rate 62
Rent-to-Income Ratio 42
Employment & Wages 52.5
Unemployment Rate 45
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 17
Business Formation Rate 95
Income & Poverty 51.8
Poverty Rate 48
Income vs. State Median 58
Child Poverty Rate 49
Debt & Delinquency 37.6
Debt in Collections 43
Medical Debt 7
Student Loan Delinquency 56
Auto Loan Delinquency 13
Credit Card Delinquency 53
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 53
Community Vulnerability 23.4
Uninsured Rate 11
Disability Rate 35

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

Neighbors and Peers

How Cayuga County compares to its 7 neighboring counties and population peers.

Neighboring Counties

County Score Zone vs. Cayuga County
Cayuga County, NY 45.3 Normal —
Seneca County, NY 60.6 Elevated +15.4
Oswego County, NY 55.0 Elevated +9.7
Jefferson County, NY 54.1 Elevated +8.9
Cortland County, NY 53.2 Elevated +7.9
Tompkins County, NY 47.6 Normal +2.3
Onondaga County, NY 45.7 Normal +0.5
Wayne County, NY 44.7 Normal -0.5

Population Peers

County Score Zone vs. Cayuga County
Franklin County, PA 45.3 Normal +0.0
Benton County, WA 45.3 Normal +0.0
Wagoner County, OK 45.2 Normal -0.0
Livingston County, NY 45.4 Normal +0.1
Natrona County, WY 45.4 Normal +0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Cayuga County

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 Cayuga 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 Cayuga County, New York?

    Cayuga County has a County Distress Index score of 45.3 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 1,961st nationally out of 3,144 counties and 43rd in New York out of 62 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Cayuga County?

    The primary driver of distress in Cayuga County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 60.9 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Cayuga County compare to neighboring counties?

    Cayuga County (45.3) can be compared to its 7 neighboring counties: Seneca County, NY (60.6); Oswego County, NY (55.0); Jefferson County, NY (54.1).

  • 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 Cayuga County?

    Cayuga County, New York has a population of approximately 74,485 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.