About one in 15 people in Suffolk County, New York, lives below the poverty line
In Suffolk County, 6.7% of people lived below the poverty line. That is lower than in 96% of U.S. counties.
Less distressed than 64% of U.S. counties.
What drives Suffolk County's score
In Suffolk County, housing costs are the highest-scoring part, at 91.9. Income and the safety net is the lowest part, at 6.0. The typical household earns $125,969 a year (2024), more than in 98% of U.S. counties.
The County Distress Index looks at five parts of household money trouble in Suffolk 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.
Even so, Suffolk County is worse off than most counties on renters paying half their income or more in rent (30.8%, 2020 to 2024) and rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income (25.6%, fiscal year 2027).
A longer bar means more trouble. See how the county score works.
- 91.9 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 rent30.8% · 2020 to 202497th percentile
- Rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income25.6% · fiscal year 202785th percentile
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- 47.0 of 100
Collections and bankruptcy
Credit records, August 2025; bankruptcy filings, 2025
- People with unpaid debt sent to a collector14.9% · August 202518th percentile
- Bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people201.2 · 202575th percentile
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- 35.1 of 100
Jobs
Unemployment through Sep 2026; adults not working, 2020–24 Census survey
- Unemployment rate, average over the latest year3.8% · Oct 2025 to Sep 202640th percentile
- Adults 25 to 54 not working17.4% · 2020 to 202429th percentile
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- 26.2 of 100
Late payments
Credit records, August 2025; credit scores, second quarter of 2026
- People with a credit card behind4.8% · August 202539th percentile
- People with a car or retail loan behind3.4% · August 202520th percentile
- People with a subprime credit score31.6% · second quarter of 202618th percentile
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- 6.0 of 100
Income and safety net
Poverty and income, 2024; disability and insurance, 2020–24 Census survey
- People below the poverty line6.7% · 20243rd percentile
- Children below the poverty line7.4% · 20244th percentile
- People with a disability10.5% · 2020 to 20245th percentile
- People without health insurance4.7% · 2020 to 202415th percentile
- Median household income (lower income, longer bar)$125,969 · 20241st 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 Suffolk 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 Suffolk County, 17.9% of residents are 65 or older (Census Bureau, 2024), against 17.2% nationally that year.
Cents of every dollar of income, 2024
Suffolk County
New York
United States
- Pay from work
- Investments and rent
- Benefit checks
In Suffolk County, benefit checks' share of income has more than doubled since 1969, reaching 15.9% in 2024, but pay from work still brings in about four times as much as benefit checks
In Suffolk County, New York, benefit checks' share of income more than doubled from 1969 to 2024, reaching 15.9%; pay from work is plotted alongside. Every fifth year and 2024 are shown.
- Benefit checks
- Pay from work
The share of households in Suffolk County getting SNAP food aid rose most in two steps: 3.4% in 2010 to 4.2% in 2011; 4.9% in 2012 to 5.7% in 2013.
The share of households in Suffolk County getting SNAP food aid more than doubled to 7.2%, the highest on the chart
Biggest rise: 2010 to 2011, reaching 4.2%. Households getting SNAP, every year; each bar is a five-year survey estimate ending that year, so neighboring bars share most of their data, Suffolk County, New York.
How Suffolk County has changed
Suffolk County's population had its largest rise, from 1,092,090 in 1969 to 1,215,797 in 1974.
Suffolk County's population rose 41% from 1969 to 2024, with no dip in any year shown
Smallest rise: 2014 to 2019, reaching 1,524,358. Residents, yearly estimate, every fifth year and 2024, Suffolk County, New York.
The number of jobs located in Suffolk County had its largest rise in the last span, from 603,116 in 2020 to 689,858 in 2025.
The number of jobs located in Suffolk County rose by about a third to 689,858, the highest on the chart
High on the chart: 689,858 in 2025. Yearly average of jobs covered by unemployment insurance, every fifth year and 2025, Suffolk County, New York.
| Measure | Then | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rateBLS LAUS | 1990 4.4% | 2025 3.5% |
| People below the poverty lineCensus SAIPE | 1989 4.8% | 2024 6.7% |
| Median household incomeCensus SAIPE | 1989 $43,339 | 2024 $125,969 |
The table uses 3.5% for 2025; the score uses 3.8% 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 Suffolk County's history
1900
Polish immigrants arrived early 20th century, created Polish Town in Riverhead. Wikipedia
1997
Winter weather in January 1997 killed one person. NOAA Storm Events Database
2002
A rip current in August 2002 killed two people. NOAA Storm Events Database
2005
A flash flood in October 2005 did $11 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2014
A flash flood in August 2014 did $35.2 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2020
The county's largest recorded population was the 2020 Census count of 1,525,920, which is also its most recent census. Census Bureau
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Since 1965
36 federal disaster and emergency declarations have covered Suffolk County, 10 of them for flooding. FEMA
Suffolk County beside its neighbors
Suffolk County scores higher than all one counties that border it.
| County | Score | Poverty | Benefit checks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Suffolk County, NY | 35 | 6.7% | 15.9% |
| Nassau County, NY | 20 | 5.9% | 13.1% |
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 Suffolk County the poorest county in New York?
No, Suffolk County's poverty rate was 6.7% in 2024, 61st 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, Suffolk County ranks 47th of 62 in the state.
If you're behind on your mortgage in Suffolk 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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American Debt Resources
HUD-approved housing counselor
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Central Islip Civic Council, Inc.
HUD-approved housing counselor
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COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION OF LONG ISLAND dba Community Development Long Island
HUD-approved housing counselor
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Legal Services of Long Island
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 Suffolk 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 Suffolk County comes from, 2024.
- History The agencies named in each row and the linked records above.