Foreclosures in New York increased in 2009 over the prior year. There was a total of 50,369 properties with foreclosure filings. That works out to a rate of one filing for every 158 households, which compares to the United States average of 45, and is a little more than one half of one percent of the state's housing units.
New York is the 3rd largest U.S. state by population, with 19,490,297 people (in 2008). Its 54,555 square miles make it the 27th largest state by area. Median household income in 2008 was $56,033.
New York is widely referred to as the worlds' financial capital. A tremendous number of major equity market transactions pass through New York City and all of the world's leading financial firms maintain operations there. New York City is the world's 5th leading tourist destination, and within it, Times Square is the biggest tourist destination in the United States. Beyond the city, manufacturing, government and health services and agriculture are big. In agriculture, more than one-forth of the state's area is devoted to farming. New York is renowned for its apples, but also produces of a wide variety of other foods in substantial amounts.
