Defiance County, Ohio

County Distress Index: Normal · 39.6 | 38,315 people · 72nd most distressed in Ohio
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Defiance County, OH falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 39.6 — 2214th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Legal Distress, where bankruptcy filings are moderately elevated. Within Ohio, it ranks 72nd of 88 counties. Its score is in the middle of its 6 neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Defiance County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 54.2 — above the national median.

Legal Distress Primary driver 54.2
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 54
Consumer Credit Distress 42.8
Debt in Collections 38
Medical Debt 49
Auto Loan Delinquency 52
Credit Card Delinquency 32
Uninsured Rate 56
Subprime Credit Population 40
Structural Poverty 35.1
Unemployment Rate 55
Poverty Rate 12
Income vs. State Median 27
Child Poverty Rate 24
Disability Rate 32
Transfer Income Dependency 56
Housing Cost Burden 33.5
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 28
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 50
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 7
Homeownership Rate 26
Economic Vitality 33.4
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 24
Rent-to-Income Ratio 7
Business Formation Rate 85
House Price Change (YoY) 60

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Defiance County
Defiance County, OH 39.6 Normal —
Allen County, IN 53.7 Elevated +14.1
Williams County, OH 49.5 Normal +9.9
Paulding County, OH 43.6 Normal +3.9
DeKalb County, IN 38.4 Normal -1.2
Henry County, OH 32.5 Healthy -7.2
Putnam County, OH 25.6 Healthy -14.1

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Defiance County
Benton County, MN 39.6 Normal 0.0
Douglas County, WA 39.7 Normal +0.0
Mason County, MI 39.7 Normal +0.0
Caledonia County, VT 39.6 Normal -0.0
Jerome County, ID 39.6 Normal -0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Defiance 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 Defiance 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 Defiance County, Ohio?

    Defiance County has a County Distress Index score of 39.6 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 2,214th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 72nd in Ohio out of 88 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Defiance County?

    The primary driver of distress in Defiance County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 54.2 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Defiance County compare to neighboring counties?

    Defiance County (39.6) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Allen County, IN (53.7); Williams County, OH (49.5); Paulding County, OH (43.6).

  • 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 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). Defiance County's score of 39.6 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Defiance 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 Defiance County?

    Defiance County, Ohio has a population of approximately 38,315 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.