Erie County, Ohio

County Distress Index: Elevated · 52.5 | 74,035 people · 44th most distressed in Ohio
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Erie County, OH registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 52.5 — 1426th 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 44th of 88 counties. Its score is in the middle of its 4 neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Erie County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 76.5 — worse than roughly 77% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 76.5
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 76
Housing Cost Burden 61.3
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 52
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 74
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 41
Homeownership Rate 66
Structural Poverty 52.8
Unemployment Rate 83
Poverty Rate 41
Income vs. State Median 61
Child Poverty Rate 54
Disability Rate 48
Transfer Income Dependency 38
Economic Vitality 51.3
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 62
Rent-to-Income Ratio 51
Business Formation Rate 44
House Price Change (YoY) 8
Consumer Credit Distress 44.9
Debt in Collections 50
Medical Debt 64
Auto Loan Delinquency 35
Credit Card Delinquency 35
Uninsured Rate 22
Subprime Credit Population 52

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Erie County
Erie County, OH 52.5 Elevated —
Huron County, OH 55.3 Elevated +2.8
Lorain County, OH 54.9 Elevated +2.4
Sandusky County, OH 46.7 Normal -5.9
Ottawa County, OH 35.8 Normal -16.8

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Erie County
Walton County, FL 52.5 Elevated -0.0
Autauga County, AL 52.5 Elevated -0.1
Williamson County, IL 52.8 Elevated +0.3
New Hanover County, NC 52.3 Elevated -0.3
Lycoming County, PA 52.8 Elevated +0.3

Download Data

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

Find Help in Erie 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 Erie 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 Erie County, Ohio?

    Erie County has a County Distress Index score of 52.5 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 1,426th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 44th in Ohio out of 88 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Erie County?

    The primary driver of distress in Erie County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 76.5 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Erie County compare to neighboring counties?

    Erie County (52.5) can be compared to its 4 neighboring counties: Huron County, OH (55.3); Lorain County, OH (54.9); Sandusky County, OH (46.7).

  • 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). Erie County's score of 52.5 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Erie 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 Erie County?

    Erie County, Ohio has a population of approximately 74,035 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.