In Jefferson County, New York, rent on a two-bedroom takes about one in four dollars of the typical household's income
In Jefferson County, 25.2% of the typical household's income would go to rent on a two-bedroom. That is higher than in 84% of U.S. counties.
More distressed than 56% of U.S. counties.
What drives Jefferson County's score
In Jefferson County, housing costs weigh most: the score for housing costs is 76.5. Jobs come next, at 62.6.
The County Distress Index looks at five parts of household money trouble in Jefferson 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.
Jefferson County does better than most counties on two measures: people without health insurance (5.5%, 2020 to 2024) and people with a disability (14.9%, 2020 to 2024).
A longer bar means more trouble. See how the county score works.
- 76.5 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 rent21.3% · 2020 to 202468th percentile
- Rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income25.2% · fiscal year 202784th percentile
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- 62.6 of 100
Jobs
Unemployment through Sep 2026; adults not working, 2020–24 Census survey
- Unemployment rate, average over the latest year4.8% · Oct 2025 to Sep 202675th percentile
- Adults 25 to 54 not working20.6% · 2020 to 202449th percentile
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- 45.9 of 100
Late payments
Credit records, August 2025; credit scores, second quarter of 2026
- People with a credit card behind5.1% · August 202543rd percentile
- People with a car or retail loan behind4.7% · August 202543rd percentile
- People with a subprime credit score40.3% · second quarter of 202650th percentile
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- 42.5 of 100
Collections and bankruptcy
Credit records, August 2025; bankruptcy filings, 2025
- People with unpaid debt sent to a collector21.6% · August 202544th percentile
- Bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people108.9 · 202540th percentile
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- 42.4 of 100
Income and safety net
Poverty and income, 2024; disability and insurance, 2020–24 Census survey
- People below the poverty line13.5% · 202452nd percentile
- Children below the poverty line17.5% · 202451st percentile
- People with a disability14.9% · 2020 to 202439th percentile
- People without health insurance5.5% · 2020 to 202425th percentile
- Median household income (lower income, longer bar)$69,193 · 202442nd 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 Jefferson 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 Jefferson County, 15.1% of residents are 65 or older (Census Bureau, 2024), against 17.2% nationally that year.
Cents of every dollar of income, 2024
Jefferson County
New York
United States
- Pay from work
- Investments and rent
- Benefit checks
In Jefferson County, benefit checks' share of income has doubled since 1969, reaching 23.5% in 2024, but pay from work still brings in more than twice as much as benefit checks
In Jefferson County, New York, benefit checks' share of income doubled from 1969 to 2024, reaching 23.5%; pay from work is plotted alongside. Every fifth year and 2024 are shown.
- Benefit checks
- Pay from work
The share of households in Jefferson County getting SNAP food aid had its largest rise, from 11.4% in 2010 to 13.4% in 2011.
The share of households in Jefferson County getting SNAP food aid was at its highest on the chart in 2020 and has since fallen to 15.8%
Low on the chart: 10.5% 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, Jefferson County, New York.
How Jefferson County has changed
Jefferson County's population rose most sharply after its 1984 low, from 88,094 in 1984 to 109,534 in 1989.
Jefferson County's population rose by about a third from 1969 to 2019, reaching 117,602, then turned down in 2024
High on the chart: 121,548 in 2014. Residents, yearly estimate, every fifth year and 2024, Jefferson County, New York.
The number of jobs located in Jefferson County had its largest drop, from 41,442 in 2015 to 37,247 in 2020.
The number of jobs located in Jefferson County was about the same in 2025 as in 1990
High on the chart: 42,215 in 2010. Yearly average of jobs covered by unemployment insurance, every fifth year and 2025, Jefferson County, New York.
| Measure | Then | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rateBLS LAUS | 1990 8.7% | 2025 4.5% |
| People below the poverty lineCensus SAIPE | 1989 10.9% | 2024 13.5% |
| Median household incomeCensus SAIPE | 1989 $24,250 | 2024 $69,193 |
The table uses 4.5% for 2025; the score uses 4.8% 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 Jefferson County's history
1983
A tornado in August 1983 did $2.5 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
1995
A thunderstorm in July 1995 did $15 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2011
A flood in April 2011 killed one person. NOAA Storm Events Database
2019
A flood in June 2019 did $1,500,000 in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2020
The county's largest recorded population was the 2020 Census count of 116,721, which is also its most recent census. Census Bureau
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Since 1973
21 federal disaster and emergency declarations have covered Jefferson County, 7 of them for flooding. FEMA
Jefferson County beside its neighbors
Of the three counties that border Jefferson County, one scores higher. For the share of income from benefit checks, Jefferson County ranks 3rd of the four; St. Lawrence County is highest, at 29.3%.
| County | Score | Poverty | Benefit checks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oswego County, NY | 65 | 15.7% | 28.2% |
| St. Lawrence County, NY | 56 | 16.8% | 29.3% |
| Jefferson County, NY | 56 | 13.5% | 23.5% |
| 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 Jefferson County the poorest county in New York?
No, Jefferson County's poverty rate was 13.5% in 2024, 23rd 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, Jefferson County ranks 13th of 62 in the state.
If you're behind on your mortgage in Jefferson 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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Neighbors of Watertown, Inc.
HUD-approved housing counselor
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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 Jefferson 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 Jefferson County comes from, 2024.
- History The agencies named in each row and the linked records above.