Adams County, Ohio

County Distress Index: Serious · 67.9 | 27,521 people · 8th most distressed in Ohio
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Adams County, OH shows significant household financial distress with a score of 67.9 — 504th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Structural Poverty, where poverty rates are high, transfer income dependency is elevated, and household incomes lag well behind state and national medians. Within Ohio, it ranks 8th of 88 counties. Among its 6 neighboring counties, 4 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Adams County's primary driver is Structural Poverty at 85.8 — worse than roughly 86% of U.S. counties.

Structural Poverty Primary driver 85.8
Unemployment Rate 93
Poverty Rate 82
Income vs. State Median 84
Child Poverty Rate 82
Disability Rate 90
Transfer Income Dependency 86
Legal Distress 75.5
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 76
Consumer Credit Distress 72.9
Debt in Collections 85
Medical Debt 85
Auto Loan Delinquency 77
Credit Card Delinquency 48
Uninsured Rate 47
Subprime Credit Population 79
Housing Cost Burden 56.7
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 55
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 48
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 77
Homeownership Rate 66
Economic Vitality 36.6
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 24
Rent-to-Income Ratio 49
Business Formation Rate 69
House Price Change (YoY) 1

Scores are percentile-based: 50 = national median, higher = more distressed.

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Adams County
Adams County, OH 67.9 Serious —
Pike County, OH 68.7 Serious +0.8
Scioto County, OH 68.5 Serious +0.6
Brown County, OH 61.0 Elevated -6.8
Mason County, KY 59.9 Elevated -7.9
Lewis County, KY 55.7 Elevated -12.2
Highland County, OH 55.5 Elevated -12.4

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Adams County
Jackson County, KY 67.9 Serious +0.0
Arkansas County, AR 67.9 Serious +0.0
Montague County, TX 67.9 Serious +0.0
Pittsburg County, OK 67.9 Serious +0.0
Fayette County, IN 67.8 Serious -0.1

Download Data

Export all distress indicators for Adams County as a CSV file.

Find Help in Adams County

Find an Attorney

Ohio State Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service offers a lawyer referral service for bankruptcy, foreclosure defense, and consumer rights.

Ohio State Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service 1-800-282-6556

Free Legal Aid

Legal aid organizations serving Adams County residents at no cost.

Legal Aid Society of Cleveland 216-687-1900
Columbus Legal Aid Society 614-224-8374
Community Legal Aid (Akron/Canton) 330-535-4191
Ohio Legal Help
Ohio State Bar Association Lawyer Referral 1-800-282-6556
Community Legal Aid Services, Inc. (800) 998-9454
Legal Aid Society of Greater Cincinnati (513) 241-9400
Legal Aid of Southeast and Central Ohio (614) 221-7201
Legal Aid of Western Ohio, Inc. (888) 534-1432
The Legal Aid Society of Cleveland (216) 687-1900

Self-Help Resources

Ohio Legal Help — Foreclosure Self-help guides for Ohio foreclosure process and defenses
OHFA Homeowner Resources Assistance programs and housing counselor referrals

American Default Research does not endorse, rate, or rank any provider. Verify attorney credentials with your state bar.

Need legal help? Find a foreclosure defense attorney in Ohio →

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the distress score for Adams County, Ohio?

    Adams County has a County Distress Index score of 67.9 out of 100, placing it in the Serious zone. It ranks 504th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 8th in Ohio out of 88 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Adams County?

    The primary driver of distress in Adams County is Structural Poverty, where the county scores 85.8 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Unemployment Rate, Poverty Rate, Income vs. State Median.

  • How does Adams County compare to neighboring counties?

    Adams County (67.9) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Pike County, OH (68.7); Scioto County, OH (68.5); Brown County, OH (61.0).

  • How is the County Distress Index calculated?

    The County Distress Index uses PCA-weighted percentile scoring across five statistically derived factors: Consumer Credit Distress (47.5%), Housing Cost Burden (22.3%), Structural Poverty (13.6%), Economic Vitality (9.2%), and Legal Distress (7.4%). Each county's indicators are ranked against all 3,144 U.S. counties. A score of 50 means the county is at the national median; higher scores indicate greater distress.

  • How often is the CDI updated?

    Annually, aligned to Census American Community Survey and Urban Institute Debt in America release windows — the slowest-moving source inputs. Between annual refreshes, faster-cadence indicators (BLS unemployment, QCEW wages) may drive light mid-year updates if a specific component moves meaningfully. Current data compiled April 14, 2026; next full refresh early 2027.

  • What does the Serious zone mean?

    The CDI divides counties into five zones: Healthy (below 46), Normal (46–55), Elevated (55–71), Serious (71–86), and Crisis (86 and above). Adams County's score of 67.9 sits in the Serious zone (71–86).

  • What data sources power Adams County's CDI score?

    Adams County's CDI score draws on Urban Institute Debt in America (Equifax credit-bureau panel), U.S. Census Bureau (American Community Survey 5-year, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates), Bureau of Labor Statistics (LAUS, QCEW), U.S. Courts Administrative Office (F-5A bankruptcy filings), and HUD Fair Market Rents. Every number on this page traces to one of these public sources.

  • What is the population of Adams County?

    Adams County, Ohio has a population of approximately 27,521 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.