Ashtabula County, Ohio

County Distress Index: Serious · 72.3 | 96,845 people · 1st most distressed in Ohio
American Default Research

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Ashtabula County, OH shows significant household financial distress with a score of 72.3 — 299th 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 1st 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. Ashtabula County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 84.6 — worse than roughly 85% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 84.6
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 85
Housing Cost Burden 74.8
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 88
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 79
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 46
Homeownership Rate 53
Structural Poverty 72.7
Unemployment Rate 52
Poverty Rate 77
Income vs. State Median 76
Child Poverty Rate 87
Disability Rate 61
Transfer Income Dependency 77
Consumer Credit Distress 71.9
Debt in Collections 72
Medical Debt 88
Auto Loan Delinquency 70
Credit Card Delinquency 78
Uninsured Rate 61
Subprime Credit Population 62
Economic Vitality 58.0
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 61
Rent-to-Income Ratio 53
Business Formation Rate 72
House Price Change (YoY) 29

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Ashtabula County
Ashtabula County, OH 72.3 Serious —
Trumbull County, OH 66.0 Serious -6.2
Erie County, PA 54.8 Elevated -17.5
Lake County, OH 47.6 Normal -24.7
Crawford County, PA 45.1 Normal -27.2
Geauga County, OH 22.4 Healthy -49.8

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Ashtabula County
Ector County, TX 72.3 Serious -0.0
Wichita County, TX 72.2 Serious -0.1
Richmond city, VA 72.5 Serious +0.2
Walker County, TX 72.1 Serious -0.2
Tuscaloosa County, AL 72.1 Serious -0.2

Download Data

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

Find Help in Ashtabula 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 Ashtabula 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 Ashtabula County, Ohio?

    Ashtabula County has a County Distress Index score of 72.3 out of 100, placing it in the Serious zone. It ranks 299th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 1st in Ohio out of 88 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Ashtabula County?

    The primary driver of distress in Ashtabula County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 84.6 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Ashtabula County compare to neighboring counties?

    Ashtabula County (72.3) can be compared to its 5 neighboring counties: Trumbull County, OH (66.0); Erie County, PA (54.8); Lake County, OH (47.6).

  • 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). Ashtabula County's score of 72.3 sits in the Serious zone (71–86).

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

    Ashtabula 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 Ashtabula County?

    Ashtabula County, Ohio has a population of approximately 96,845 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.