About one in 11 people in Rockland County, New York, has a disability
In Rockland County, 9.0% of people reported a disability (Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 2020 to 2024). That is lower than in 97% of U.S. counties.
Less distressed than 58% of U.S. counties.
What drives Rockland County's score
In Rockland County, housing costs are the highest-scoring part, at 99.4. Late payments on loans are the lowest part, at 26.2. People with a car or retail loan behind: 3.5%, August 2025, lower than in 74% of U.S. counties.
The County Distress Index combines five things we measure for every county: jobs, late payments on loans, income and the safety net, collections and bankruptcy, and housing costs. Each gets a score from 0 to 100; the higher the score, the worse off the county is compared with others.
Even so, Rockland County is worse off than most counties on renters paying half their income or more in rent (35.8%, 2020 to 2024) and rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income (34.4%, fiscal year 2027).
The five parts count equally; together they hold 14 measures. Under each part, a bar shows where Rockland County ranks among all 3,144 U.S. counties on that measure, as a percentile: the share of counties it is higher than. A longer bar means more trouble.
- 99.4 of 100
Housing costs
Biggest factorHUD's fair market rents, fiscal year 2027; renters, 2020–24 Census survey
- Rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income34.4% · fiscal year 202799th percentile
- Renters paying half their income or more in rent35.8% · 2020 to 202499th percentile
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- 39.9 of 100
Jobs
Adults not working, 2020–24 Census survey; unemployment through Aug 2026
- Adults 25 to 54 not working20.9% · 2020 to 202450th percentile
- Unemployment rate, 12-month average3.5% · Sep 2025 to Aug 202628th percentile
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- 32.3 of 100
Income and safety net
Poverty and income, 2024; disability and insurance, 2020–24 Census survey
- Children below the poverty line23.9% · 202479th percentile
- People with a disability9.0% · 2020 to 20242nd percentile
- Median household income (lower income, longer bar)$103,771 · 20244th percentile
- People below the poverty line15.2% · 202466th percentile
- People without health insurance4.1% · 2020 to 20249th percentile
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- 27.1 of 100
Collections and bankruptcy
Credit records, August 2025; bankruptcy filings, 2025
- People with unpaid debt sent to a collector12.0% · August 20258th percentile
- Bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people118.5 · 202546th percentile
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- 26.2 of 100
Late payments
Credit records, August 2025; credit scores, Q4 2025
- People with a car or retail loan behind3.5% · August 202525th percentile
- People with a credit card behind4.1% · August 202526th percentile
- People with a subprime credit score18.2% · Q4 202526th percentile
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Sources: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Fair Market Rents and U.S. Census Bureau income; Census Bureau, American Community Survey; Urban Institute, Debt in America; Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, Table F-5A; Equifax via the St. Louis Fed; 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 Aug 2026.
Where the money in Rockland County comes from
The Bureau of Economic Analysis adds up all the income that reaches the people of a county and splits it three ways: pay from work, income from investments and rent, and benefit checks.
Cents of every dollar of income, 2024
Rockland County
New York
United States
- Pay from work
- Investments and rent
- Benefit checks
In Rockland County in 2024, pay from work was 62 cents of every dollar of income. Income from investments and rentals was 19 cents. Benefit checks were 19 cents. Across the country, pay is 61 cents of the dollar and benefit checks are 18.
Benefit checks have grown from 6 cents of every dollar in 1969, but pay from work still brings in more.
In Rockland County, benefit checks rose from 6 to 19 cents of every dollar
Benefit checks and pay from work as shares of all personal income, Rockland County, New York: 18.5% and 62.2% in 2024. Yearly, 1969–2024.
Use this chart Free to use with credit
The quote: In 2024, benefit checks made up 18.5% of all personal income in Rockland County, New York (U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, CAINC4).
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 Rockland County, 15.7% of residents are 65 or older (Census Bureau, 2024), against 17.2% nationally.
How Rockland County has changed
The number of people living in Rockland County grew by about 56% between 1969 and 2024, from 223,240 to 348,144. The number of jobs located there grew by about 40% from 1990 to 2024.
Unemployment fell from 3.3% in 1990 to 3.2% in 2025.
| Measure | Then | Now |
|---|---|---|
| People living in the countyBEA | 1969 223,240 | 2024 348,144 |
| Jobs located in the countyBLS QCEW | 1990 98,996 | 2024 138,317 |
| Unemployment rateBLS LAUS | 1990 3.3% | 2025 3.2% |
| People below the poverty lineCensus SAIPE | 1989 5.6% | 2024 15.2% |
| Median household income (not adjusted for prices)Census SAIPE | 1989 $46,458 | 2024 $103,771 |
| Share of income from benefit checksBEA | 1969 5.8% | 2024 18.5% |
Figures are as each agency published them, not adjusted for prices. We don't chart the distress score over time because it compares counties at one moment.
Dated events in Rockland County's history
Largest decennial census count
The county's largest recorded population was the 2020 Census count of 338,329, which is also its most recent census. Census Bureau
1999
Flash flood: $4.4 million in property damage, one death. NOAA Storm Events Database
2018
Thunderstorm wind: one death. NOAA Storm Events Database
2021
Flash flood: $3.13 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
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Since 1965
30 federal disaster and emergency declarations have covered Rockland County, 9 of them for flooding. FEMA
Storms are listed if they did $1 million or more in damage or killed someone.
Rockland County beside its neighbors
Of the five counties that border Rockland County, in New York and New Jersey, two score higher. For the share of income from benefit checks, Rockland County ranks 3rd of the six; Passaic County is highest, at 22.2%.
| County | Score | Poverty | Benefit checks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Passaic County, NJ | 75 | 12.1% | 22.2% |
| Orange County, NY | 56 | 12.0% | 20.2% |
| Rockland County, NY | 41 | 15.2% | 18.5% |
| Westchester County, NY | 28 | 8.7% | 10.1% |
| Bergen County, NJ | 26 | 6.7% | 11.1% |
| Putnam County, NY | 21 | 6.8% | 14.6% |
Distress score: American Default Research, County Distress Index, data through Aug 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 Rockland County the poorest county in New York?
No, Rockland County's poverty rate was 15.2% in 2024, 16th 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, Rockland County ranks 38th of 62 in the state.
Rockland County in photographs
Places in Rockland County from Wikimedia Commons, each captioned in its photographer's own words.
Jasper Francis Cropsey - High Torne Mountain, Rockland County, New York.jpg.
Photo: Not stated on the file page via Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
Rockland County, New York: common questions
What is the poverty rate in Rockland County, New York?
15.2% in 2024, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates: about one in seven people. Among children it was 23.9%.
Is Rockland County the poorest county in New York?
No, Rockland County's poverty rate was 15.2% in 2024, 16th 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, Rockland County ranks 38th of 62 in the state.
What is the population of Rockland County, New York?
About 348,144 people in 2024, by the Bureau of Economic Analysis's count. The 2020 Census counted 338,329, the most of any census.
How is the County Distress Index calculated?
We rank every U.S. county on 14 federal measures of money trouble, grouped into five equally weighted parts, and average them. The published score is the share of the other 3,143 counties with a lower average. The methodology lists every measure and its source.
If you're behind on your mortgage in Rockland County
A U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development-approved housing counselor works at a nonprofit agency approved by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The counseling to avoid foreclosure is free, and a counselor can help you talk to your mortgage company and understand what it offers, according to the Consumer Financial Protection BureauSourceCFPB.
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Rockland Housing Action Coalition
HUD-approved housing counselor
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Empire Justice Center
Legal aid
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Legal Services NYC
Legal aid
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HUD-approved housing counselors
Counseling to avoid foreclosure is free. Our help directory lists 1,313 approved agencies 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 Rockland County · Every U.S. county (CSV)
Sources and method
- American Default Research · County Distress Index Data through Aug 2026, built from HUD Fair Market Rents and Census income; Census Bureau, American Community Survey; Urban Institute, Debt in America; U.S. Courts, Table F-5A; Equifax via the St. Louis Fed; Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates. Our methodology
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Economic Accounts (CAINC4) · income shares Where the money in Rockland County comes from, 2024.
- History The agencies named in each row and the linked records above.