Allen County, Ohio

County Distress Index: Elevated · 57.3 | 100,838 people · 30th most distressed in Ohio
American Default Research

Behind on your mortgage or facing eviction? Take a 2-minute assessment to see your options.

Allen County, OH registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 57.3 — 1135th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Legal Distress, where bankruptcy filing rates are well above the national average. Within Ohio, it ranks 30th of 88 counties. It scores higher than all 5 of its neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Allen County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 67.0 — above the national median.

Legal Distress Primary driver 67.0
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 67
Consumer Credit Distress 60.8
Debt in Collections 67
Medical Debt 82
Auto Loan Delinquency 53
Credit Card Delinquency 54
Uninsured Rate 32
Subprime Credit Population 62
Housing Cost Burden 56.7
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 52
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 58
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 39
Homeownership Rate 77
Structural Poverty 53.2
Unemployment Rate 72
Poverty Rate 55
Income vs. State Median 48
Child Poverty Rate 54
Disability Rate 50
Transfer Income Dependency 48
Economic Vitality 39.3
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 27
Rent-to-Income Ratio 42
Business Formation Rate 79
House Price Change (YoY) 15

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Allen County
Allen County, OH 57.3 Elevated —
Hardin County, OH 54.9 Elevated -2.4
Hancock County, OH 44.7 Normal -12.6
Van Wert County, OH 44.1 Normal -13.2
Auglaize County, OH 33.0 Healthy -24.3
Putnam County, OH 25.6 Healthy -31.7

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Allen County
Allegany County, MD 57.4 Elevated +0.1
Shasta County, CA 57.2 Elevated -0.1
Franklin County, KY 57.5 Elevated +0.2
Shawnee County, KS 57.1 Elevated -0.2
Robertson County, TN 57.1 Elevated -0.2

Download Data

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

Find Help in Allen County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Allen County.

WEST OHIO COMMUNITY ACTION PARTNERSHIP
Lima
419-227-2586 Website
Mortgage HelpFinancial CounselingFair HousingHomeless/Displacement

See all counselors in Ohio →

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 Allen 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 →

Continue Reading

Frequently Asked Questions

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

    Allen County has a County Distress Index score of 57.3 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 1,135th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 30th in Ohio out of 88 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Allen County?

    The primary driver of distress in Allen County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 67.0 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Allen County compare to neighboring counties?

    Allen County (57.3) can be compared to its 5 neighboring counties: Hardin County, OH (54.9); Hancock County, OH (44.7); Van Wert County, OH (44.1).

  • 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 Elevated 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). Allen County's score of 57.3 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Allen 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 Allen County?

    Allen County, Ohio has a population of approximately 100,838 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.