Brown County, Ohio

County Distress Index: Elevated · 61.0 | 43,777 people · 18th most distressed in Ohio
American Default Research

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Brown County, OH registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 61.0 — 883rd 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 18th of 88 counties. Among its 6 neighboring counties, 5 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Brown County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 83.9 — worse than roughly 84% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 83.9
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 84
Consumer Credit Distress 66.2
Debt in Collections 74
Medical Debt 84
Auto Loan Delinquency 63
Credit Card Delinquency 66
Uninsured Rate 36
Subprime Credit Population 62
Structural Poverty 61.7
Unemployment Rate 76
Poverty Rate 62
Income vs. State Median 39
Child Poverty Rate 72
Disability Rate 66
Transfer Income Dependency 67
Economic Vitality 54.1
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 69
Rent-to-Income Ratio 17
Business Formation Rate 64
House Price Change (YoY) 73
Housing Cost Burden 44.8
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 51
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 42
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 38
Homeownership Rate 41

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Brown County
Brown County, OH 61.0 Elevated —
Adams County, OH 67.9 Serious +6.8
Mason County, KY 59.9 Elevated -1.1
Bracken County, KY 58.8 Elevated -2.2
Highland County, OH 55.5 Elevated -5.5
Clinton County, OH 52.0 Elevated -9.0
Clermont County, OH 47.2 Normal -13.9

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Brown County
Texas County, MO 61.0 Elevated +0.0
Beckham County, OK 61.0 Elevated -0.0
Wayne County, WV 61.0 Elevated -0.0
Grant Parish, LA 61.1 Elevated +0.0
Jackson County, TN 61.0 Elevated -0.0

Download Data

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

Find Help in Brown 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 Brown 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 Brown County, Ohio?

    Brown County has a County Distress Index score of 61.0 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 883rd nationally out of 3,144 counties and 18th in Ohio out of 88 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Brown County?

    The primary driver of distress in Brown County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 83.9 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Brown County compare to neighboring counties?

    Brown County (61.0) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Adams County, OH (67.9); Mason County, KY (59.9); Bracken County, KY (58.8).

  • 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). Brown County's score of 61.0 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Brown 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 Brown County?

    Brown County, Ohio has a population of approximately 43,777 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.