Clark County, Ohio

County Distress Index: Serious · 69.1 | 134,610 people · 3rd most distressed in Ohio
American Default Research

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Clark County, OH shows significant household financial distress with a score of 69.1 — 434th 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 3rd 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. Clark County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 78.3 — worse than roughly 78% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 78.3
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 78
Consumer Credit Distress 73.3
Debt in Collections 76
Medical Debt 84
Auto Loan Delinquency 82
Credit Card Delinquency 69
Uninsured Rate 38
Subprime Credit Population 72
Structural Poverty 66.5
Unemployment Rate 67
Poverty Rate 63
Income vs. State Median 74
Child Poverty Rate 67
Disability Rate 60
Transfer Income Dependency 66
Housing Cost Burden 64.2
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 66
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 62
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 53
Homeownership Rate 73
Economic Vitality 56.1
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 55
Rent-to-Income Ratio 64
Business Formation Rate 57
House Price Change (YoY) 36

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Clark County
Clark County, OH 69.1 Serious —
Montgomery County, OH 66.5 Serious -2.6
Miami County, OH 49.7 Normal -19.4
Champaign County, OH 47.6 Normal -21.5
Madison County, OH 46.9 Normal -22.3
Greene County, OH 39.2 Normal -29.9

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Clark County
Tom Green County, TX 69.2 Serious +0.0
Imperial County, CA 69.0 Serious -0.1
Taylor County, TX 69.4 Serious +0.3
Hamblen County, TN 69.5 Serious +0.3
Grayson County, TX 68.6 Serious -0.5

Download Data

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

Find Help in Clark County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Clark County.

NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSING PARTNERSHIP OF GREATER SPRINGFIELD, INC.
Springfield
937-322-4623 Website
Foreclosure PreventionFinancial CounselingFinancial CounselingHome Improvement/Rehab

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 Clark 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 Clark County, Ohio?

    Clark County has a County Distress Index score of 69.1 out of 100, placing it in the Serious zone. It ranks 434th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 3rd in Ohio out of 88 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Clark County?

    The primary driver of distress in Clark County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 78.3 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Clark County compare to neighboring counties?

    Clark County (69.1) can be compared to its 5 neighboring counties: Montgomery County, OH (66.5); Miami County, OH (49.7); Champaign 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). Clark County's score of 69.1 sits in the Serious zone (71–86).

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

    Clark 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 Clark County?

    Clark County, Ohio has a population of approximately 134,610 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.