Columbiana County, Ohio

County Distress Index: Elevated · 59.7 | 100,182 people · 24th most distressed in Ohio
American Default Research

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Columbiana County, OH registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 59.7 — 973rd 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 24th of 88 counties. Among its 7 neighboring counties, 4 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Columbiana County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 87.4 — worse than roughly 87% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 87.4
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 87
Structural Poverty 71.7
Unemployment Rate 74
Poverty Rate 66
Income vs. State Median 83
Child Poverty Rate 62
Disability Rate 63
Transfer Income Dependency 75
Consumer Credit Distress 56.6
Debt in Collections 59
Medical Debt 72
Auto Loan Delinquency 50
Credit Card Delinquency 57
Uninsured Rate 39
Subprime Credit Population 56
Housing Cost Burden 53.6
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 51
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 61
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 32
Homeownership Rate 57
Economic Vitality 51.0
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 38
Rent-to-Income Ratio 49
Business Formation Rate 82
House Price Change (YoY) 66

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Columbiana County
Columbiana County, OH 59.7 Elevated —
Mahoning County, OH 65.8 Serious +6.1
Jefferson County, OH 63.7 Elevated +3.9
Hancock County, WV 60.5 Elevated +0.7
Stark County, OH 52.8 Elevated -7.0
Lawrence County, PA 51.1 Elevated -8.6
Beaver County, PA 46.5 Normal -13.2
Carroll County, OH 42.5 Normal -17.3

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Columbiana County
Lackawanna County, PA 59.7 Elevated 0.0
Isabella County, MI 59.8 Elevated +0.0
Vanderburgh County, IN 59.8 Elevated +0.1
Athens County, OH 59.8 Elevated +0.1
Coffee County, TN 59.8 Elevated +0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Columbiana 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 Columbiana 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 Columbiana County, Ohio?

    Columbiana County has a County Distress Index score of 59.7 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 973rd nationally out of 3,144 counties and 24th in Ohio out of 88 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Columbiana County?

    The primary driver of distress in Columbiana County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 87.4 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Columbiana County compare to neighboring counties?

    Columbiana County (59.7) can be compared to its 7 neighboring counties: Mahoning County, OH (65.8); Jefferson County, OH (63.7); Hancock County, WV (60.5).

  • 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). Columbiana County's score of 59.7 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Columbiana 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 Columbiana County?

    Columbiana County, Ohio has a population of approximately 100,182 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.