Crawford County, Ohio

County Distress Index: Elevated · 55.9 | 41,529 people · 33rd most distressed in Ohio
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Crawford County, OH registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 55.9 — 1207th 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 33rd of 88 counties. Among its 6 neighboring counties, 4 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Crawford County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 77.0 — worse than roughly 77% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 77.0
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 77
Structural Poverty 61.8
Unemployment Rate 76
Poverty Rate 41
Income vs. State Median 73
Child Poverty Rate 47
Disability Rate 49
Transfer Income Dependency 75
Consumer Credit Distress 58.1
Debt in Collections 60
Medical Debt 39
Auto Loan Delinquency 63
Credit Card Delinquency 78
Uninsured Rate 32
Subprime Credit Population 59
Housing Cost Burden 46.3
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 51
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 39
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 28
Homeownership Rate 66
Economic Vitality 42.3
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 34
Rent-to-Income Ratio 37
Business Formation Rate 89
House Price Change (YoY) 11

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Crawford County
Crawford County, OH 55.9 Elevated —
Marion County, OH 68.2 Serious +12.3
Richland County, OH 58.3 Elevated +2.3
Huron County, OH 55.3 Elevated -0.6
Seneca County, OH 51.6 Elevated -4.3
Morrow County, OH 48.7 Normal -7.2
Wyandot County, OH 34.7 Healthy -21.2

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Crawford County
Bryan County, GA 55.9 Elevated +0.0
Wakulla County, FL 55.9 Elevated -0.0
Neosho County, KS 56.0 Elevated +0.0
Fentress County, TN 55.8 Elevated -0.1
Calhoun County, TX 56.0 Elevated +0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Crawford 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 Crawford 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 Crawford County, Ohio?

    Crawford County has a County Distress Index score of 55.9 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 1,207th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 33rd in Ohio out of 88 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Crawford County?

    The primary driver of distress in Crawford County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 77.0 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Crawford County compare to neighboring counties?

    Crawford County (55.9) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Marion County, OH (68.2); Richland County, OH (58.3); Huron County, OH (55.3).

  • 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). Crawford County's score of 55.9 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Crawford 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 Crawford County?

    Crawford County, Ohio has a population of approximately 41,529 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.