In Niagara County, New York, rent on a two-bedroom takes about one in four dollars of the typical household's income
In Niagara County, 24.3% of the typical household's income would go to rent on a two-bedroom. That is higher than in 79% of U.S. counties.
More distressed than 54% of U.S. counties.
What drives Niagara County's score
In Niagara County, housing costs weigh most: the score for housing costs is 80.2. About one in four renters (23.6%, 2020 to 2024) pays half their income or more in rent, a higher share than in 80% of U.S. counties. Jobs come next, at 63.1.
The County Distress Index looks at five parts of household money trouble in Niagara 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.
Niagara County does better than most counties on two measures: people without health insurance (2.9%, 2020 to 2024) and people with a car or retail loan behind (3.3%, August 2025).
A longer bar means more trouble. See how the county score works.
- 80.2 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 rent23.6% · 2020 to 202480th percentile
- Rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income24.3% · fiscal year 202779th percentile
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- 63.1 of 100
Jobs
Unemployment through Sep 2026; adults not working, 2020–24 Census survey
- Unemployment rate, average over the latest year4.7% · Oct 2025 to Sep 202672nd percentile
- Adults 25 to 54 not working21.3% · 2020 to 202453rd percentile
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- 43.1 of 100
Collections and bankruptcy
Credit records, August 2025; bankruptcy filings, 2025
- People with unpaid debt sent to a collector20.7% · August 202540th percentile
- Bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people117.4 · 202545th percentile
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- 38.7 of 100
Income and safety net
Poverty and income, 2024; disability and insurance, 2020–24 Census survey
- People below the poverty line13.2% · 202449th percentile
- Children below the poverty line17.8% · 202453rd percentile
- People with a disability15.7% · 2020 to 202447th percentile
- People without health insurance2.9% · 2020 to 20242nd percentile
- Median household income (lower income, longer bar)$70,329 · 202440th percentile
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- 37.4 of 100
Late payments
Credit records, August 2025; credit scores, second quarter of 2026
- People with a credit card behind5.4% · August 202549th percentile
- People with a car or retail loan behind3.3% · August 202519th percentile
- People with a subprime credit score38.3% · second quarter of 202643rd 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 Niagara 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 Niagara County, 20.7% of residents are 65 or older (Census Bureau, 2024), against 17.2% nationally that year.
Cents of every dollar of income, 2024
Niagara County
New York
United States
- Pay from work
- Investments and rent
- Benefit checks
In Niagara County, benefit checks' share of income has tripled since 1969, reaching 25.8% in 2024, but pay from work still brings in more than twice as much as benefit checks
In Niagara County, New York, benefit checks' share of income tripled from 1969 to 2024, reaching 25.8%; pay from work is plotted alongside. Every fifth year and 2024 are shown.
- Benefit checks
- Pay from work
SNAP food aid is one of the benefit checks counted in the income totals above.
The share of households in Niagara County getting SNAP food aid rose by about half to 14.7%, the highest on the chart
Biggest rise: 2010 to 2011, reaching 12.6%. Households getting SNAP, every year; each bar is a five-year survey estimate ending that year, so neighboring bars share most of their data, Niagara County, New York.
How Niagara County has changed
Niagara County's population fell 11% from 1969 to 2024, reaching its lowest on the chart
Biggest drop: 1979 to 1984, reaching 218,327. Residents, yearly estimate, every fifth year and 2024, Niagara County, New York.
The number of jobs located in Niagara County had its largest drop, from 72,902 in 2015 to 64,358 in 2020.
The number of jobs located in Niagara County fell by about a quarter from 1990 to 2020, reaching 64,358, then turned up in 2025
High on the chart: 83,314 in 1990. Yearly average of jobs covered by unemployment insurance, every fifth year and 2025, Niagara County, New York.
| Measure | Then | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rateBLS LAUS | 1990 5.7% | 2025 4.4% |
| People below the poverty lineCensus SAIPE | 1989 8.4% | 2024 13.2% |
| Median household incomeCensus SAIPE | 1989 $27,050 | 2024 $70,329 |
The table uses 4.4% for 2025; the score uses 4.7% 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 Niagara County's history
1789
In 1789, Ontario County was split off from Montgomery. Wikipedia
1802
In turn, Genesee County was created from Ontario County in 1802. Wikipedia
1821
In 1821, Erie County was created from Niagara County. Wikipedia
1960
The county's largest recorded population was the 1960 Census count of 242,269. The 2020 Census counted 212,666, 88% of the peak. Census Bureau
1998
A flash flood in January 1998 did $1 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2019
A flood in May 2019 did $1,000,000 in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2019
A flood in June 2019 did $1,000,000 in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
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Since 1973
27 federal disaster and emergency declarations have covered Niagara County, 10 of them for flooding. FEMA
Niagara County beside its neighbors
Of the three counties that border Niagara County, one scores higher. For the share of income from benefit checks, Niagara County ranks 2nd of the four; Orleans County is highest, at 29.3%.
| County | Score | Poverty | Benefit checks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Orleans County, NY | 55 | 10.8% | 29.3% |
| Niagara County, NY | 54 | 13.2% | 25.8% |
| Erie County, NY | 44 | 12.8% | 22.1% |
| Genesee County, NY | 19 | 9.9% | 25.4% |
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 Niagara County the poorest county in New York?
No, Niagara County's poverty rate was 13.2% in 2024, 27th 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, Niagara County ranks 16th of 62 in the state.
If you're behind on your mortgage in Niagara 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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Neighborhood Legal Services
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 Niagara 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 Niagara County comes from, 2024.
- History The agencies named in each row and the linked records above.