In Richmond County, New York, rent on a two-bedroom takes about two in five dollars of the typical household's income
In Richmond County, 37.0% of the typical household's income would go to rent on a two-bedroom. That is higher than in 99% of U.S. counties.
More distressed than 50% of U.S. counties.
What drives Richmond County's score
In Richmond County, housing costs weigh most: the score for housing costs is 97.9. Jobs come next, at 66.0.
The County Distress Index looks at five parts of household money trouble in Richmond 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.
Richmond County does better than most counties on two measures: median household income ($96,437, 2024) and people with a disability (11.1%, 2020 to 2024).
A longer bar means more trouble. See how the county score works.
- 97.9 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 rent29.4% · 2020 to 202496th percentile
- Rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income37.0% · fiscal year 202799th percentile
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- 66.0 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 202671st percentile
- Adults 25 to 54 not working22.4% · 2020 to 202460th percentile
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- 37.2 of 100
Collections and bankruptcy
Credit records, August 2025; bankruptcy filings, 2025
- People with unpaid debt sent to a collector17.3% · August 202527th percentile
- Bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people120.2 · 202546th percentile
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- 32.4 of 100
Late payments
Credit records, August 2025; credit scores, second quarter of 2026
- People with a credit card behind5.0% · August 202542nd percentile
- People with a car or retail loan behind4.1% · August 202534th percentile
- People with a subprime credit score32.3% · second quarter of 202620th percentile
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- 18.6 of 100
Income and safety net
Poverty and income, 2024; disability and insurance, 2020–24 Census survey
- People below the poverty line11.5% · 202435th percentile
- Children below the poverty line13.8% · 202432nd percentile
- People with a disability11.1% · 2020 to 20248th percentile
- People without health insurance4.1% · 2020 to 20249th percentile
- Median household income (lower income, longer bar)$96,437 · 20246th 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 Richmond 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 Richmond County, 17.2% of residents are 65 or older (Census Bureau, 2024), against 17.2% nationally that year.
Cents of every dollar of income, 2024
Richmond County
New York
United States
- Pay from work
- Investments and rent
- Benefit checks
In Richmond County, benefit checks' share of income has more than doubled since 1969, reaching 26.2% in 2024, but pay from work still brings in more than twice as much as benefit checks
In Richmond County, New York, benefit checks' share of income more than doubled from 1969 to 2024, reaching 26.2%; 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 Richmond County getting SNAP food aid nearly doubled to 13.4%, the highest on the chart
Biggest rise: 2011 to 2012, reaching 10.7%. Households getting SNAP, every year; each bar is a five-year survey estimate ending that year, so neighboring bars share most of their data, Richmond County, New York.
How Richmond County has changed
Richmond County's population had its largest rise, from 406,208 in 1994 to 437,814 in 1999.
Richmond County's population nearly doubled from 1969 to 2024, reaching 498,212, with no dip in any year shown
Smallest rise: 2019 to 2024, reaching 498,212. Residents, yearly estimate, every fifth year and 2024, Richmond County, New York.
The number of jobs located in Richmond County had its largest rise, from 93,156 in 2010 to 113,350 in 2015.
The number of jobs located in Richmond County doubled from 1990 to 2025, reaching 135,842, with no dip in any year shown
Smallest rise: 2000 to 2005, reaching 89,520. Yearly average of jobs covered by unemployment insurance, every fifth year and 2025, Richmond County, New York.
| Measure | Then | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rateBLS LAUS | 1990 6.1% | 2025 4.7% |
| People below the poverty lineCensus SAIPE | 1989 6.5% | 2024 11.5% |
| Median household incomeCensus SAIPE | 1989 $41,331 | 2024 $96,437 |
The table uses 4.7% 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 Richmond County's history
2010
A thunderstorm in September 2010 did $1.7 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2020
The county's largest recorded population was the 2020 Census count of 495,747, which is also its most recent census. Census Bureau
2021
A flash flood in September 2021 did $60 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
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Since 1965
25 federal disaster and emergency declarations have covered Richmond County, 5 of them for flooding. FEMA
Richmond County beside its neighbors
Of the six counties that border Richmond County, in New York and New Jersey, four score higher. For the share of income from benefit checks, Richmond County ranks 2nd of the seven; Queens County is highest, at 26.7%.
| County | Score | Poverty | Benefit checks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kings County, NY | 69 | 19.2% | 23.5% |
| Hudson County, NJ | 61 | 14.7% | 13.3% |
| Queens County, NY | 58 | 13.4% | 26.7% |
| Union County, NJ | 56 | 9.7% | 13.5% |
| Richmond County, NY | 50 | 11.5% | 26.2% |
| Middlesex County, NJ | 38 | 8.3% | 14.3% |
| Monmouth County, NJ | 23 | 6.9% | 13.3% |
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 Richmond County the poorest county in New York?
No, Richmond County's poverty rate was 11.5% in 2024, 45th 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, Richmond County ranks 22nd of 62 in the state.
If you're behind on your mortgage in Richmond 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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NEIGHBORHOODS FOR A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE fka NHS of Staten Island
HUD-approved housing counselor
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Northfield Community Local Development Corporation of Staten Island, Inc.
HUD-approved housing counselor
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Legal Services NYC
Legal aid
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Legal Aid Society
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 Richmond 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 Richmond County comes from, 2024.
- History The agencies named in each row and the linked records above.