In Franklin County, New York, rent on a two-bedroom takes about one in five dollars of the typical household's income
In Franklin County, 19.2% of the typical household's income would go to rent on a two-bedroom. That is lower than in 66% of U.S. counties.
Less distressed than 52% of U.S. counties.
What drives Franklin County's score
In Franklin County, income and the safety net is the highest-scoring part, at 60.4. Collections and bankruptcy is the lowest part, at 37.9. Bankruptcy filings ran at 98.9 per 100,000 people (2025), lower than in 64% of U.S. counties.
The County Distress Index looks at five parts of household money trouble in Franklin 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, Franklin County is worse off than most counties on people below the poverty line (18.0%, 2024).
A longer bar means more trouble. See how the county score works.
- 60.4 of 100
Income and safety net
Biggest factorPoverty and income, 2024; disability and insurance, 2020–24 Census survey
- People below the poverty line18.0% · 202480th percentile
- Children below the poverty line20.1% · 202465th percentile
- People with a disability18.2% · 2020 to 202469th percentile
- People without health insurance5.7% · 2020 to 202427th percentile
- Median household income (lower income, longer bar)$63,460 · 202459th percentile
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- 58.3 of 100
Jobs
Unemployment through Sep 2026; adults not working, 2020–24 Census survey
- Unemployment rate, average over the latest year4.3% · Oct 2025 to Sep 202661st percentile
- Adults 25 to 54 not working21.6% · 2020 to 202455th percentile
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- 45.1 of 100
Late payments
Credit records, August 2025; credit scores, second quarter of 2026
- People with a credit card behind5.7% · August 202554th percentile
- People with a car or retail loan behind4.0% · August 202532nd percentile
- People with a subprime credit score39.7% · second quarter of 202648th percentile
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- 40.9 of 100
Housing costs
Renters, 2020–24 Census survey; HUD's fair market rents, fiscal year 2027
- Renters paying half their income or more in rent17.9% · 2020 to 202448th percentile
- Rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income19.2% · fiscal year 202733rd percentile
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- 37.9 of 100
Collections and bankruptcy
Credit records, August 2025; bankruptcy filings, 2025
- People with unpaid debt sent to a collector20.5% · August 202540th percentile
- Bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people98.9 · 202535th 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 Franklin 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 Franklin County, 19.5% of residents are 65 or older (Census Bureau, 2024), against 17.2% nationally that year.
Cents of every dollar of income, 2024
Franklin County
New York
United States
- Pay from work
- Investments and rent
- Benefit checks
Benefit checks' share of income in Franklin County had its largest rise, from 14.7% in 1969 to 19.4% in 1974.
In Franklin County, benefit checks' share of income has doubled since 1969, reaching 28.1% in 2024, but pay from work still brings in twice as much as benefit checks
In Franklin County, New York, benefit checks' share of income doubled from 1969 to 2024, reaching 28.1%; pay from work is plotted alongside. Every fifth year and 2024 are shown.
- Benefit checks
- Pay from work
The share of households in Franklin County getting SNAP food aid had its largest rise, from 14.5% in 2012 to 16.2% in 2013.
The share of households in Franklin County getting SNAP food aid rose by about half from 2009 to 2024, reaching 17.5%
High on the chart: 18.2% 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, Franklin County, New York.
How Franklin County has changed
Franklin County's population had its largest rise, from 45,996 in 1989 to 49,712 in 1994.
Franklin County's population was at its highest on the chart in 2009 and is down 9% since
High on the chart: 51,706 in 2009. Residents, yearly estimate, every fifth year and 2024, Franklin County, New York.
The jobs count covers work located in the county; the population count covers residents.
The number of jobs located in Franklin County rose 11% from 1990 to 2025, with most of the change between 1995 and 2000
High on the chart: 18,563 in 2010. Yearly average of jobs covered by unemployment insurance, every fifth year and 2025, Franklin County, New York.
| Measure | Then | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rateBLS LAUS | 1990 8.7% | 2025 4.2% |
| People below the poverty lineCensus SAIPE | 1989 15.2% | 2024 18.0% |
| Median household incomeCensus SAIPE | 1989 $21,456 | 2024 $63,460 |
The table uses 4.2% for 2025; the score uses 4.3% 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 Franklin County's history
1812
War of 1812: village of Malone sacked by British troops. Wikipedia
1866
Fenian raids of Canada in 1866 and 1870 using Malone as staging point. Wikipedia
1998
North American Ice Storm of 1998 caused natural disaster in Malone. Wikipedia
2010
The county's largest recorded population was the 2010 Census count of 51,599. The 2020 Census counted 47,555, 92% of the peak. Census Bureau
2011
A flood in April 2011 did $6 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2011
A flood in April 2011 did $3 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2013
A flood in June 2013 did $4.17 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2014
A flood in April 2014 did $1 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
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Since 1993
20 federal disaster and emergency declarations have covered Franklin County, 8 of them for flooding. FEMA
Franklin County beside its neighbors
Of the four counties that border Franklin County, two score higher. For the share of income from benefit checks, Franklin County ranks 2nd of the five; St. Lawrence County is highest, at 29.3%.
| County | Score | Poverty | Benefit checks |
|---|---|---|---|
| St. Lawrence County, NY | 56 | 16.8% | 29.3% |
| Clinton County, NY | 48 | 13.2% | 27.9% |
| Franklin County, NY | 47 | 18.0% | 28.1% |
| Hamilton County, NY | 37 | 10.7% | 26.4% |
| Essex County, NY | 33 | 11.6% | 26.1% |
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 Franklin County the poorest county in New York?
No, Franklin County's poverty rate was 18.0% in 2024, 6th 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, Franklin County ranks 27th of 62 in the state.
If you're behind on your mortgage in Franklin 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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Legal Aid Society of Northeastern New York
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 Franklin 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 Franklin County comes from, 2024.
- History The agencies named in each row and the linked records above.