In Steuben County, New York, rent on a two-bedroom takes about one in five dollars of the typical household's income
In Steuben County, 18.6% of the typical household's income would go to rent on a two-bedroom. That is lower than in 72% of U.S. counties.
Less distressed than 57% of U.S. counties.
What drives Steuben County's score
In Steuben County, jobs are the highest-scoring part, at 59.0. Collections and bankruptcy is the lowest part, at 29.1. Bankruptcy filings ran at 65.1 per 100,000 people (2025), lower than in 82% of U.S. counties.
The County Distress Index looks at five parts of household money trouble in Steuben 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.
Steuben County isn't among the worst-off quarter of U.S. counties on any measure.
A longer bar means more trouble. See how the county score works.
- 59.0 of 100
Jobs
Biggest factorUnemployment through Sep 2026; adults not working, 2020–24 Census survey
- Unemployment rate, average over the latest year4.3% · Oct 2025 to Sep 202660th percentile
- Adults 25 to 54 not working21.9% · 2020 to 202457th percentile
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- 46.8 of 100
Late payments
Credit records, August 2025; credit scores, second quarter of 2026
- People with a credit card behind6.2% · August 202561st percentile
- People with a car or retail loan behind4.2% · August 202535th percentile
- People with a subprime credit score38.5% · second quarter of 202643rd percentile
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- 46.1 of 100
Income and safety net
Poverty and income, 2024; disability and insurance, 2020–24 Census survey
- People below the poverty line14.5% · 202460th percentile
- Children below the poverty line19.2% · 202461st percentile
- People with a disability15.6% · 2020 to 202446th percentile
- People without health insurance4.8% · 2020 to 202416th percentile
- Median household income (lower income, longer bar)$68,152 · 202445th percentile
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- 45.4 of 100
Housing costs
Renters, 2020–24 Census survey; HUD's fair market rents, fiscal year 2027
- Renters paying half their income or more in rent20.2% · 2020 to 202462nd percentile
- Rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income18.6% · fiscal year 202727th percentile
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- 29.1 of 100
Collections and bankruptcy
Credit records, August 2025; bankruptcy filings, 2025
- People with unpaid debt sent to a collector20.8% · August 202541st percentile
- Bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people65.1 · 202517th 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 Steuben 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 Steuben County, 20.8% of residents are 65 or older (Census Bureau, 2024), against 17.2% nationally that year.
Cents of every dollar of income, 2024
Steuben County
New York
United States
- Pay from work
- Investments and rent
- Benefit checks
In Steuben County, benefit checks' share of income has more than doubled since 1969, reaching 26.6% in 2024, but pay from work still brings in twice as much as benefit checks
In Steuben County, New York, benefit checks' share of income more than doubled from 1969 to 2024, reaching 26.6%; pay from work is plotted alongside. Every fifth year and 2024 are shown.
- Benefit checks
- Pay from work
The share of households in Steuben County getting SNAP food aid had its largest rise, from 9.9% in 2010 to 11.0% in 2011.
The share of households in Steuben County getting SNAP food aid was at its highest on the chart in 2015 and has since fallen to 12.1%
Low on the chart: 9.2% 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, Steuben County, New York.
How Steuben County has changed
Steuben County's population had its largest drop, from 97,618 in 2014 to 94,165 in 2019.
Steuben County's population fell 7% from 1969 to 2024, reaching its lowest on the chart
High on the chart: 100,634 in 1994. Residents, yearly estimate, every fifth year and 2024, Steuben County, New York.
The number of jobs located in Steuben County had its largest drop, from 40,926 in 2000 to 36,463 in 2005.
The number of jobs located in Steuben County was at its highest on the chart in 2000 and is down 16% since
High on the chart: 40,926 in 2000. Yearly average of jobs covered by unemployment insurance, every fifth year and 2025, Steuben County, New York.
| Measure | Then | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rateBLS LAUS | 1990 5.2% | 2025 4.0% |
| People below the poverty lineCensus SAIPE | 1989 11.3% | 2024 14.5% |
| Median household incomeCensus SAIPE | 1989 $27,042 | 2024 $68,152 |
The table uses 4.0% for 2025; the score uses 4.3% 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 Steuben County's history
1970
The county's largest recorded population was the 1970 Census count of 99,546. The 2020 Census counted 93,584, 94% of the peak. Census Bureau
1996
A flash flood in November 1996 did $14.4 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2021
A flash flood in August 2021 did $25 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2024
A flash flood in August 2024 did $35 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2024
A flash flood in August 2024 did $30 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
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Since 1972
24 federal disaster and emergency declarations have covered Steuben County, 13 of them for flooding. FEMA
Steuben County beside its neighbors
Of the eight counties that border Steuben County, in New York and Pennsylvania, four score higher. For the share of income from benefit checks, Steuben County ranks 7th of the nine; Potter County is highest, at 32.8%.
| County | Score | Poverty | Benefit checks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chemung County, NY | 62 | 14.2% | 29.2% |
| Allegany County, NY | 53 | 16.4% | 31.9% |
| Schuyler County, NY | 45 | 15.3% | 30.7% |
| Potter County, PA | 43 | 13.9% | 32.8% |
| Steuben County, NY | 42 | 14.5% | 26.6% |
| Tioga County, PA | 35 | 11.4% | 31.0% |
| Yates County, NY | 35 | 12.6% | 27.3% |
| Livingston County, NY | 28 | 9.9% | 25.4% |
| Ontario County, NY | 15 | 9.0% | 21.5% |
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 Steuben County the poorest county in New York?
No, Steuben County's poverty rate was 14.5% in 2024, 19th 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, Steuben County ranks 37th of 62 in the state.
If you're behind on your mortgage in Steuben 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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Steuben Churchpeople Against Poverty, Inc. D/b/a Arbor Housing and Development
HUD-approved housing counselor
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Legal Assistance of Western New York (LawNY)
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 Steuben 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 Steuben County comes from, 2024.
- History The agencies named in each row and the linked records above.