Butler County, Ohio

County Distress Index: Elevated · 53.1 | 393,043 people · 42nd most distressed in Ohio
American Default Research

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Butler County, OH registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 53.1 — 1396th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Housing Cost Burden, where a large share of households spend more than 30% of income on housing. Within Ohio, it ranks 42nd 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. Butler County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 71.2 — above the national median.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 71.2
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 71
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 76
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 57
Homeownership Rate 71
Legal Distress 61.1
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 61
Consumer Credit Distress 52.3
Debt in Collections 57
Medical Debt 65
Auto Loan Delinquency 50
Credit Card Delinquency 49
Uninsured Rate 32
Subprime Credit Population 51
Economic Vitality 46.1
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 53
Rent-to-Income Ratio 42
Business Formation Rate 42
House Price Change (YoY) 32
Structural Poverty 26.5
Unemployment Rate 58
Poverty Rate 37
Income vs. State Median 15
Child Poverty Rate 26
Disability Rate 15
Transfer Income Dependency 21

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Butler County
Butler County, OH 53.1 Elevated —
Montgomery County, OH 66.5 Serious +13.4
Hamilton County, OH 60.1 Elevated +7.0
Preble County, OH 44.9 Normal -8.1
Dearborn County, IN 42.5 Normal -10.6
Union County, IN 36.6 Normal -16.4
Franklin County, IN 30.7 Healthy -22.4
Warren County, OH 27.7 Healthy -25.3

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Butler County
Monterey County, CA 53.1 Elevated -0.0
Northampton County, PA 53.0 Elevated -0.0
Gloucester County, NJ 53.0 Elevated -0.1
Baldwin County, AL 52.8 Elevated -0.2
Stark County, OH 52.8 Elevated -0.3

Download Data

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

Find Help in Butler County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Butler County.

NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSING SERVICES OF HAMILTON, INC.
Hamilton
513-737-9301 Website
Foreclosure PreventionFinancial CounselingHome Improvement/RehabPre-Purchase
OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY EXTENSION - BUTLER COUNTY
HAMILTON
513-785-6653 Website
Financial CounselingFinancial CounselingPre-PurchaseHomebuyer Education

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 Butler 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 Butler County, Ohio?

    Butler County has a County Distress Index score of 53.1 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 1,396th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 42nd in Ohio out of 88 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Butler County?

    The primary driver of distress in Butler County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 71.2 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Butler County compare to neighboring counties?

    Butler County (53.1) can be compared to its 7 neighboring counties: Montgomery County, OH (66.5); Hamilton County, OH (60.1); Preble County, OH (44.9).

  • 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). Butler County's score of 53.1 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Butler 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 Butler County?

    Butler County, Ohio has a population of approximately 393,043 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a large county.