About one in eight people in Madison County, New York, has a disability
In Madison County, 13.3% of people reported a disability. That is lower than in 75% of U.S. counties.
Less distressed than 60% of U.S. counties.
What drives Madison County's score
In Madison County, housing costs are the highest-scoring part, at 77.1. Income and the safety net is the lowest part, at 21.7. About one in 26 people (3.8%, 2020 to 2024) has no health insurance, a lower share than in 93% of U.S. counties.
The County Distress Index looks at five parts of household money trouble in Madison 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, Madison County is worse off than most counties on rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income (24.3%, fiscal year 2027).
A longer bar means more trouble. See how the county score works.
- 77.1 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 rent22.3% · 2020 to 202474th percentile
- Rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income24.3% · fiscal year 202779th percentile
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- 51.0 of 100
Jobs
Unemployment through Sep 2026; adults not working, 2020–24 Census survey
- Unemployment rate, average over the latest year4.2% · Oct 2025 to Sep 202656th percentile
- Adults 25 to 54 not working20.0% · 2020 to 202445th percentile
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- 43.5 of 100
Collections and bankruptcy
Credit records, August 2025; bankruptcy filings, 2025
- People with unpaid debt sent to a collector18.0% · August 202530th percentile
- Bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people140.5 · 202556th percentile
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- 27.5 of 100
Late payments
Credit records, August 2025; credit scores, second quarter of 2026
- People with a credit card behind4.7% · August 202536th percentile
- People with a car or retail loan behind3.4% · August 202520th percentile
- People with a subprime credit score33.9% · second quarter of 202625th percentile
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- 21.7 of 100
Income and safety net
Poverty and income, 2024; disability and insurance, 2020–24 Census survey
- People below the poverty line10.7% · 202428th percentile
- Children below the poverty line11.0% · 202417th percentile
- People with a disability13.3% · 2020 to 202424th percentile
- People without health insurance3.8% · 2020 to 20246th percentile
- Median household income (lower income, longer bar)$73,747 · 202431st 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 Madison 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 Madison 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
Madison County
New York
United States
- Pay from work
- Investments and rent
- Benefit checks
In Madison County, benefit checks' share of income has tripled since 1969, reaching 23.4% in 2024, but pay from work still brings in more than twice as much as benefit checks
In Madison County, New York, benefit checks' share of income tripled from 1969 to 2024, reaching 23.4%; pay from work is plotted alongside. Every fifth year and 2024 are shown.
- Benefit checks
- Pay from work
The share of households in Madison County getting SNAP food aid had its largest rise, from 7.7% in 2011 to 9.5% in 2012.
The share of households in Madison County getting SNAP food aid was at its highest on the chart in 2015 and has since fallen to 11.6%
Low on the chart: 6.7% 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, Madison County, New York.
How Madison County has changed
Madison County's population rose most sharply from its first year (62,232 in 1969) to 65,168 in 1974.
Madison County's population was at its highest on the chart in 2009 and is down 8% since
High on the chart: 73,169 in 2009. Residents, yearly estimate, every fifth year and 2024, Madison County, New York.
The jobs count covers work located in the county; the population count covers residents.
The number of jobs located in Madison County rose 14% from 1990 to 2025, with most of the change between 1995 and 2000
High on the chart: 21,730 in 2000. Yearly average of jobs covered by unemployment insurance, every fifth year and 2025, Madison County, New York.
| Measure | Then | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rateBLS LAUS | 1990 5.1% | 2025 3.9% |
| People below the poverty lineCensus SAIPE | 1989 9.4% | 2024 10.7% |
| Median household incomeCensus SAIPE | 1989 $29,252 | 2024 $73,747 |
The table uses 3.9% for 2025; the score uses 4.2% 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 Madison County's history
2006
A flash flood in June 2006 did $25 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2010
The county's largest recorded population was the 2010 Census count of 73,442. The 2020 Census counted 68,016, 93% of the peak. Census Bureau
2014
A tornado in July 2014 killed four people. NOAA Storm Events Database
2023
Lightning in July 2023 killed one person. NOAA Storm Events Database
2024
A tornado in July 2024 killed one person. NOAA Storm Events Database
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Since 1972
24 federal disaster and emergency declarations have covered Madison County, 12 of them for flooding. FEMA
Madison County beside its neighbors
Of the six counties that border Madison County, five score higher. For the share of income from benefit checks, Madison County ranks 6th of the seven; Oswego County is highest, at 28.2%.
| County | Score | Poverty | Benefit checks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oswego County, NY | 65 | 15.7% | 28.2% |
| Oneida County, NY | 51 | 16.7% | 27.0% |
| Cortland County, NY | 45 | 14.7% | 26.3% |
| Onondaga County, NY | 44 | 12.5% | 21.3% |
| Chenango County, NY | 42 | 12.1% | 27.7% |
| Madison County, NY | 39 | 10.7% | 23.4% |
| Otsego County, NY | 35 | 13.7% | 26.0% |
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 Madison County the poorest county in New York?
No, Madison County's poverty rate was 10.7% in 2024, 52nd 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, Madison County ranks 39th of 62 in the state.
If you're behind on your mortgage in Madison 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 Madison 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 Madison County comes from, 2024.
- History The agencies named in each row and the linked records above.