Belmont County, Ohio

County Distress Index: Elevated · 56.3 | 64,918 people · 32nd most distressed in Ohio
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Belmont County, OH registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 56.3 — 1182nd 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 32nd of 88 counties. Among its 7 neighboring counties, 5 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Belmont County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 69.9 — above the national median.

Legal Distress Primary driver 69.9
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 70
Structural Poverty 66.8
Unemployment Rate 74
Poverty Rate 63
Income vs. State Median 81
Child Poverty Rate 65
Disability Rate 56
Transfer Income Dependency 60
Consumer Credit Distress 56.4
Debt in Collections 59
Medical Debt 38
Auto Loan Delinquency 70
Credit Card Delinquency 68
Uninsured Rate 29
Subprime Credit Population 55
Economic Vitality 54.0
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 40
Rent-to-Income Ratio 49
Business Formation Rate 93
House Price Change (YoY) 64
Housing Cost Burden 46.1
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 46
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 47
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 35
Homeownership Rate 52

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Belmont County
Belmont County, OH 56.3 Elevated —
Jefferson County, OH 63.7 Elevated +7.4
Guernsey County, OH 60.7 Elevated +4.5
Harrison County, OH 55.6 Elevated -0.7
Ohio County, WV 54.9 Elevated -1.4
Marshall County, WV 52.8 Elevated -3.4
Monroe County, OH 41.3 Normal -15.0
Noble County, OH 39.9 Normal -16.4

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Belmont County
Coffee County, AL 56.3 Elevated -0.0
Cecil County, MD 56.3 Elevated -0.0
Sullivan County, NY 56.3 Elevated +0.0
Carbon County, PA 56.2 Elevated -0.1
Lonoke County, AR 56.1 Elevated -0.2

Download Data

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

Find Help in Belmont 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 Belmont 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 Belmont County, Ohio?

    Belmont County has a County Distress Index score of 56.3 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 1,182nd nationally out of 3,144 counties and 32nd in Ohio out of 88 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Belmont County?

    The primary driver of distress in Belmont County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 69.9 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Belmont County compare to neighboring counties?

    Belmont County (56.3) can be compared to its 7 neighboring counties: Jefferson County, OH (63.7); Guernsey County, OH (60.7); Harrison County, OH (55.6).

  • 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 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). Belmont County's score of 56.3 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Belmont 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 Belmont County?

    Belmont County, Ohio has a population of approximately 64,918 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.