Unemployment in Herkimer County, New York, is higher than in 68% of U.S. counties
In Herkimer County, 4.5% of the labor force was out of work, on average. That is higher than in 68% of U.S. counties.
More distressed than 57% of U.S. counties.
What drives Herkimer County's score
In Herkimer County, jobs weigh most: the score for jobs is 58.9. Housing costs come next, at 58.8.
The County Distress Index looks at five parts of household money trouble in Herkimer 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.
Herkimer County does better than most counties on two measures: people without health insurance (4.9%, 2020 to 2024) and people with a car or retail loan behind (4.3%, August 2025).
A longer bar means more trouble. See how the county score works.
- 58.9 of 100
Jobs
Biggest factorUnemployment through Sep 2026; adults not working, 2020–24 Census survey
- Unemployment rate, average over the latest year4.5% · Oct 2025 to Sep 202666th percentile
- Adults 25 to 54 not working20.9% · 2020 to 202450th percentile
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- 58.8 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 rent18.4% · 2020 to 202451st percentile
- Rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income22.4% · fiscal year 202766th percentile
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- 55.8 of 100
Collections and bankruptcy
Credit records, August 2025; bankruptcy filings, 2025
- People with unpaid debt sent to a collector22.7% · August 202547th percentile
- Bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people161.4 · 202563rd percentile
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- 51.4 of 100
Late payments
Credit records, August 2025; credit scores, second quarter of 2026
- People with a credit card behind6.8% · August 202570th percentile
- People with a car or retail loan behind4.3% · August 202536th percentile
- People with a subprime credit score39.3% · second quarter of 202646th percentile
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- 47.9 of 100
Income and safety net
Poverty and income, 2024; disability and insurance, 2020–24 Census survey
- People below the poverty line14.6% · 202461st percentile
- Children below the poverty line18.2% · 202456th percentile
- People with a disability15.8% · 2020 to 202448th percentile
- People without health insurance4.9% · 2020 to 202417th percentile
- Median household income (lower income, longer bar)$64,913 · 202455th 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 Herkimer 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 Herkimer County, 22.3% of residents are 65 or older (Census Bureau, 2024), against 17.2% nationally that year.
Cents of every dollar of income, 2024
Herkimer County
New York
United States
- Pay from work
- Investments and rent
- Benefit checks
In Herkimer County, benefit checks' share of income has tripled since 1969, reaching 28.7% in 2024, but pay from work still brings in twice as much as benefit checks
In Herkimer County, New York, benefit checks' share of income tripled from 1969 to 2024, reaching 28.7%; pay from work is plotted alongside. Every fifth year and 2024 are shown.
- Benefit checks
- Pay from work
The share of households in Herkimer County getting SNAP food aid had its largest rise, from 12.4% in 2010 to 14.9% in 2011.
The share of households in Herkimer 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: 10.3% 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, Herkimer County, New York.
How Herkimer County has changed
Herkimer County's population had its largest drop, from 67,038 in 1994 to 64,462 in 1999.
Herkimer County's population fell 12% from 1969 to 2024, reaching its lowest on the chart
High on the chart: 67,800 in 1974. Residents, yearly estimate, every fifth year and 2024, Herkimer County, New York.
The jobs count covers work located in the county; the population count covers residents.
The number of jobs located in Herkimer County fell 13% from 1990 to 2025, with most of the change between 2000 and 2005
High on the chart: 18,801 in 2000. Yearly average of jobs covered by unemployment insurance, every fifth year and 2025, Herkimer County, New York.
| Measure | Then | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rateBLS LAUS | 1990 6.2% | 2025 4.1% |
| People below the poverty lineCensus SAIPE | 1989 10.7% | 2024 14.6% |
| Median household incomeCensus SAIPE | 1989 $24,070 | 2024 $64,913 |
The table uses 4.1% 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 Herkimer County's history
1791
In 1791, Herkimer County was created as one of three counties split off from Montgomery (the other two being Otsego and Tioga counties) as New York State was developed after the American Revolutionary War. Wikipedia
1794
In 1794, Onondaga County was split off from Herkimer County. Wikipedia
1970
The county's largest recorded population was the 1970 Census count of 67,633. The 2020 Census counted 60,139, 89% of the peak. Census Bureau
1970
A tornado in June 1970 killed one person. NOAA Storm Events Database
1990
A tornado in August 1990 did $2.5 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
1995
A thunderstorm in July 1995 did $10 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2019
A flash flood in October 2019 killed one person. NOAA Storm Events Database
2024
Remington Arms Company factory closed March 2024. Wikipedia
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Since 1974
25 federal disaster and emergency declarations have covered Herkimer County, 11 of them for flooding. FEMA
Herkimer County beside its neighbors
Of the seven counties that border Herkimer County, one scores higher. For the share of income from benefit checks, Herkimer County ranks 4th of the eight; Montgomery County is highest, at 32.5%.
| County | Score | Poverty | Benefit checks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Montgomery County, NY | 75 | 15.5% | 32.5% |
| Herkimer County, NY | 57 | 14.6% | 28.7% |
| St. Lawrence County, NY | 56 | 16.8% | 29.3% |
| Fulton County, NY | 52 | 12.7% | 30.3% |
| Oneida County, NY | 51 | 16.7% | 27.0% |
| Hamilton County, NY | 37 | 10.7% | 26.4% |
| Otsego County, NY | 35 | 13.7% | 26.0% |
| Lewis County, NY | 27 | 12.6% | 23.1% |
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 Herkimer County the poorest county in New York?
No, Herkimer County's poverty rate was 14.6% in 2024, 18th 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, Herkimer County ranks 11th of 62 in the state.
If you're behind on your mortgage in Herkimer 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 Mid-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 Herkimer 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 Herkimer County comes from, 2024.
- History The agencies named in each row and the linked records above.