In Oswego County, New York, rent on a two-bedroom takes about one in four dollars of the typical household's income
In Oswego County, 26.2% of the typical household's income would go to rent on a two-bedroom. That is higher than in 88% of U.S. counties.
More distressed than 65% of U.S. counties.
What drives Oswego County's score
In Oswego County, housing costs weigh most: the score for housing costs is 86.7. Jobs come next, at 64.0.
The County Distress Index looks at five parts of household money trouble in Oswego 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.
Oswego County does better than most counties on two measures: people without health insurance (4.2%, 2020 to 2024) and people with a car or retail loan behind (4.1%, August 2025).
A longer bar means more trouble. See how the county score works.
- 86.7 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 rent24.5% · 2020 to 202485th percentile
- Rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income26.2% · fiscal year 202788th percentile
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- 64.0 of 100
Jobs
Unemployment through Sep 2026; adults not working, 2020–24 Census survey
- Unemployment rate, average over the latest year4.6% · Oct 2025 to Sep 202668th percentile
- Adults 25 to 54 not working22.2% · 2020 to 202459th percentile
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- 52.6 of 100
Collections and bankruptcy
Credit records, August 2025; bankruptcy filings, 2025
- People with unpaid debt sent to a collector22.1% · August 202546th percentile
- Bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people147.3 · 202559th percentile
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- 47.8 of 100
Income and safety net
Poverty and income, 2024; disability and insurance, 2020–24 Census survey
- People below the poverty line15.7% · 202468th percentile
- Children below the poverty line20.0% · 202464th percentile
- People with a disability16.0% · 2020 to 202450th percentile
- People without health insurance4.2% · 2020 to 202410th percentile
- Median household income (lower income, longer bar)$68,379 · 202444th percentile
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- 46.0 of 100
Late payments
Credit records, August 2025; credit scores, second quarter of 2026
- People with a credit card behind5.6% · August 202553rd percentile
- People with a car or retail loan behind4.1% · August 202533rd percentile
- People with a subprime credit score40.5% · second quarter of 202651st 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 Oswego 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 Oswego County, 18.0% of residents are 65 or older (Census Bureau, 2024), against 17.2% nationally that year.
Cents of every dollar of income, 2024
Oswego County
New York
United States
- Pay from work
- Investments and rent
- Benefit checks
In Oswego County, benefit checks' share of income has tripled since 1969, reaching 28.2% in 2024, but pay from work still brings in twice as much as benefit checks
In Oswego County, New York, benefit checks' share of income tripled from 1969 to 2024, reaching 28.2%; pay from work is plotted alongside. Every fifth year and 2024 are shown.
- Benefit checks
- Pay from work
The share of households in Oswego County getting SNAP food aid had its largest rise, from 12.5% in 2011 to 14.4% in 2012.
The share of households in Oswego County getting SNAP food aid was at its highest on the chart in 2016 and has since fallen to 16.0%
Low on the chart: 10.4% 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, Oswego County, New York.
How Oswego County has changed
Oswego County's population rose by about a fifth from 1969 to 2024, reaching 118,305, with most of the change between 1969 and 1974
High on the chart: 124,319 in 1994. Residents, yearly estimate, every fifth year and 2024, Oswego County, New York.
The number of jobs located in Oswego County had its largest drop, from 33,417 in 2015 to 30,443 in 2020.
The number of jobs located in Oswego County fell 11% from 1990 to 2020, then turned up in 2025
High on the chart: 34,403 in 2000. Yearly average of jobs covered by unemployment insurance, every fifth year and 2025, Oswego County, New York.
| Measure | Then | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rateBLS LAUS | 1990 6.9% | 2025 4.3% |
| People below the poverty lineCensus SAIPE | 1989 9.9% | 2024 15.7% |
| Median household incomeCensus SAIPE | 1989 $29,242 | 2024 $68,379 |
The table uses 4.3% for 2025; the score uses 4.6% 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 Oswego County's history
1816
Oswego County was created in 1816 from parts of Oneida and Onondaga counties. Wikipedia
1941
Fort Ontario housed only Jewish refugee camp in US during World War II. Wikipedia
2000
The county's largest recorded population was the 2000 Census count of 122,377. The 2020 Census counted 117,525, 96% of the peak. Census Bureau
2007
Lake effect snowfall Feb 2007: over 10 feet, roof collapses, state of emergency. Wikipedia
2019
A flood in May 2019 did $1,500,000 in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2019
A flood in June 2019 did $1,500,000 in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2019
A flood in July 2019 did $1,000,000 in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
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Since 1972
21 federal disaster and emergency declarations have covered Oswego County, 9 of them for flooding. FEMA
Oswego County beside its neighbors
Oswego County scores higher than all six counties that border it. Of the group, Oswego County gets the largest share of its income from benefit checks (28.2%).
| County | Score | Poverty | Benefit checks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oswego County, NY | 65 | 15.7% | 28.2% |
| Jefferson County, NY | 56 | 13.5% | 23.5% |
| Oneida County, NY | 51 | 16.7% | 27.0% |
| Onondaga County, NY | 44 | 12.5% | 21.3% |
| Madison County, NY | 39 | 10.7% | 23.4% |
| Cayuga County, NY | 36 | 13.5% | 25.3% |
| 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 Oswego County the poorest county in New York?
No, Oswego County's poverty rate was 15.7% in 2024, 12th 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, Oswego County ranks 4th of 62 in the state.
If you're behind on your mortgage in Oswego 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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City of Fulton Community Development Agency
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 Oswego 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 Oswego County comes from, 2024.
- History The agencies named in each row and the linked records above.