Darke County, Ohio

County Distress Index: Normal · 38.3 | 51,415 people · 74th most distressed in Ohio
American Default Research

Behind on your mortgage or facing eviction? Take a 2-minute assessment to see your options.

Darke County, OH falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 38.3 — 2290th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Legal Distress, where bankruptcy filings are moderately elevated. Within Ohio, it ranks 74th of 88 counties. Among its 8 neighboring counties, 7 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Darke County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 60.3 — above the national median.

Legal Distress Primary driver 60.3
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 60
Consumer Credit Distress 40.1
Debt in Collections 43
Medical Debt 70
Auto Loan Delinquency 43
Credit Card Delinquency 23
Uninsured Rate 35
Subprime Credit Population 30
Economic Vitality 35.8
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 32
Rent-to-Income Ratio 14
Business Formation Rate 92
House Price Change (YoY) 12
Housing Cost Burden 32.2
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 31
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 24
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 24
Homeownership Rate 62
Structural Poverty 31.9
Unemployment Rate 52
Poverty Rate 19
Income vs. State Median 41
Child Poverty Rate 16
Disability Rate 31
Transfer Income Dependency 31

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Darke County
Darke County, OH 38.3 Normal —
Montgomery County, OH 66.5 Serious +28.2
Wayne County, IN 66.3 Serious +28.0
Randolph County, IN 52.0 Elevated +13.6
Jay County, IN 51.4 Elevated +13.1
Miami County, OH 49.7 Normal +11.3
Preble County, OH 44.9 Normal +6.6
Shelby County, OH 42.2 Normal +3.9
Mercer County, OH 24.0 Healthy -14.3

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Darke County
Flathead County, MT 38.3 Normal -0.0
Columbia County, NY 38.4 Normal +0.1
Garfield County, CO 38.3 Normal -0.1
Mason County, WA 38.4 Normal +0.1
Chisago County, MN 38.2 Normal -0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Darke 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 Darke 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 →

Continue Reading

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the distress score for Darke County, Ohio?

    Darke County has a County Distress Index score of 38.3 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 2,290th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 74th in Ohio out of 88 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Darke County?

    The primary driver of distress in Darke County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 60.3 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Darke County compare to neighboring counties?

    Darke County (38.3) can be compared to its 8 neighboring counties: Montgomery County, OH (66.5); Wayne County, IN (66.3); Randolph County, IN (52.0).

  • 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 Normal 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). Darke County's score of 38.3 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Darke 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 Darke County?

    Darke County, Ohio has a population of approximately 51,415 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.