In Washington County, New York, rent on a two-bedroom takes about one in four dollars of the typical household's income
In Washington County, 22.7% of the typical household's income would go to rent on a two-bedroom. That is higher than in 68% of U.S. counties.
More distressed than 51% of U.S. counties.
What drives Washington County's score
In Washington County, housing costs weigh most: the score for housing costs is 75.2. About one in four renters (23.8%, 2020 to 2024) pays half their income or more in rent, a higher share than in 81% of U.S. counties. Collections and bankruptcy comes next, at 54.7.
The County Distress Index looks at five parts of household money trouble in Washington 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.
Washington County does better than most counties on two measures: people without health insurance (4.9%, 2020 to 2024) and people with a car or retail loan behind (4.3%, August 2025).
A longer bar means more trouble. See how the county score works.
- 75.2 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 rent23.8% · 2020 to 202481st percentile
- Rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income22.7% · fiscal year 202768th percentile
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- 54.7 of 100
Collections and bankruptcy
Credit records, August 2025; bankruptcy filings, 2025
- People with unpaid debt sent to a collector20.3% · August 202539th percentile
- Bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people181.5 · 202570th percentile
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- 48.5 of 100
Late payments
Credit records, August 2025; credit scores, second quarter of 2026
- People with a credit card behind6.7% · August 202568th percentile
- People with a car or retail loan behind4.3% · August 202536th percentile
- People with a subprime credit score37.8% · second quarter of 202640th percentile
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- 41.9 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 202641st percentile
- Adults 25 to 54 not working19.5% · 2020 to 202442nd percentile
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- 35.1 of 100
Income and safety net
Poverty and income, 2024; disability and insurance, 2020–24 Census survey
- People below the poverty line11.6% · 202436th percentile
- Children below the poverty line15.8% · 202443rd percentile
- People with a disability15.0% · 2020 to 202440th percentile
- People without health insurance4.9% · 2020 to 202417th percentile
- Median household income (lower income, longer bar)$71,254 · 202437th 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 Washington 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 Washington County, 21.7% of residents are 65 or older (Census Bureau, 2024), against 17.2% nationally that year.
Cents of every dollar of income, 2024
Washington County
New York
United States
- Pay from work
- Investments and rent
- Benefit checks
In Washington County, benefit checks' share of income has tripled since 1969, reaching 27.4% in 2024, but pay from work still brings in twice as much as benefit checks
In Washington County, New York, benefit checks' share of income tripled from 1969 to 2024, reaching 27.4%; pay from work is plotted alongside. Every fifth year and 2024 are shown.
- Benefit checks
- Pay from work
The share of households in Washington County getting SNAP food aid had its largest drop, from 15.3% in 2018 to 13.3% in 2019.
The share of households in Washington County getting SNAP food aid was at its highest on the chart in 2017 and has since fallen by about a fifth
Low on the chart: 9.3% 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, Washington County, New York.
How Washington County has changed
Washington County's population had its largest rise, from 55,347 in 1984 to 58,819 in 1989.
Washington County's population rose 18% from 1969 to 2019, then turned down in 2024
High on the chart: 63,077 in 2009. Residents, yearly estimate, every fifth year and 2024, Washington County, New York.
The number of jobs located in Washington County had its largest drop, from 15,396 in 2015 to 14,370 in 2020.
The number of jobs located in Washington County fell 8% from 1990 to 2020, then turned up in 2025
High on the chart: 15,892 in 2000. Yearly average of jobs covered by unemployment insurance, every fifth year and 2025, Washington County, New York.
| Measure | Then | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rateBLS LAUS | 1990 5.4% | 2025 3.5% |
| People below the poverty lineCensus SAIPE | 1989 8.4% | 2024 11.6% |
| Median household incomeCensus SAIPE | 1989 $26,354 | 2024 $71,254 |
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 Washington County's history
1772
March 12, 1772( 1772-03-12 ) (Took its name on April 2, 1784). Wikipedia
2000
A flash flood in December 2000 did $1 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2005
A flash flood in July 2005 did $5 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2010
The county's largest recorded population was the 2010 Census count of 63,216. The 2020 Census counted 61,302, 97% of the peak. Census Bureau
2020
A flood in August 2020 did $16 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2020
A flash flood in August 2020 did $16 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
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Since 1976
16 federal disaster and emergency declarations have covered Washington County, 3 of them for flooding. FEMA
Washington County beside its neighbors
Washington County scores higher than all seven counties that border it, in New York and Vermont. For the share of income from benefit checks, Washington County ranks 2nd of the eight; Rutland County is highest, at 33.2%.
| County | Score | Poverty | Benefit checks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington County, NY | 51 | 11.6% | 27.4% |
| Warren County, NY | 45 | 12.4% | 23.0% |
| Bennington County, VT | 35 | 9.9% | 22.9% |
| Rensselaer County, NY | 34 | 11.2% | 21.4% |
| Essex County, NY | 33 | 11.6% | 26.1% |
| Rutland County, VT | 29 | 10.0% | 33.2% |
| Saratoga County, NY | 8 | 7.1% | 14.3% |
| Addison County, VT | 7 | 8.0% | 18.4% |
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 Washington County the poorest county in New York?
No, Washington County's poverty rate was 11.6% in 2024, 43rd 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, Washington County ranks 20th of 62 in the state.
If you're behind on your mortgage in Washington 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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Legal Aid Society of Northeastern 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 Washington 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 Washington County comes from, 2024.
- History The agencies named in each row and the linked records above.