Fairfield County, Ohio

County Distress Index: Elevated · 50.1 | 165,360 people · 49th most distressed in Ohio
American Default Research

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

Fairfield County, OH registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 50.1 — 1567th 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 49th of 88 counties. Among its 5 neighboring counties, 4 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Fairfield County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 75.8 — worse than roughly 76% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 75.8
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 76
Housing Cost Burden 64.1
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 77
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 53
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 77
Homeownership Rate 51
Economic Vitality 60.7
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 87
Rent-to-Income Ratio 42
Business Formation Rate 36
House Price Change (YoY) 32
Consumer Credit Distress 46.3
Debt in Collections 46
Medical Debt 53
Auto Loan Delinquency 52
Credit Card Delinquency 35
Uninsured Rate 32
Subprime Credit Population 52
Structural Poverty 19.8
Unemployment Rate 45
Poverty Rate 9
Income vs. State Median 11
Child Poverty Rate 15
Disability Rate 31
Transfer Income Dependency 17

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Fairfield County
Fairfield County, OH 50.1 Elevated —
Franklin County, OH 62.4 Elevated +12.3
Hocking County, OH 60.9 Elevated +10.8
Perry County, OH 58.8 Elevated +8.7
Pickaway County, OH 55.2 Elevated +5.1
Licking County, OH 47.7 Normal -2.4

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Fairfield County
Blair County, PA 50.2 Elevated +0.0
Pender County, NC 50.1 Elevated -0.0
Twin Falls County, ID 50.2 Elevated +0.1
Oneida County, NY 50.3 Elevated +0.1
Stanly County, NC 50.3 Elevated +0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Fairfield 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 Fairfield 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 Fairfield County, Ohio?

    Fairfield County has a County Distress Index score of 50.1 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 1,567th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 49th in Ohio out of 88 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Fairfield County?

    The primary driver of distress in Fairfield County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 75.8 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Fairfield County compare to neighboring counties?

    Fairfield County (50.1) can be compared to its 5 neighboring counties: Franklin County, OH (62.4); Hocking County, OH (60.9); Perry County, OH (58.8).

  • 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). Fairfield County's score of 50.1 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Fairfield 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 Fairfield County?

    Fairfield County, Ohio has a population of approximately 165,360 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.