Fayette County, Ohio

County Distress Index: Elevated · 61.0 | 28,817 people · 19th most distressed in Ohio
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Fayette County, OH registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 61.0 — 890th 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 19th of 88 counties. Among its 6 neighboring counties, 5 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Fayette County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 88.0 — worse than roughly 88% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 88.0
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 88
Consumer Credit Distress 70.4
Debt in Collections 76
Medical Debt 58
Auto Loan Delinquency 80
Credit Card Delinquency 63
Uninsured Rate 47
Subprime Credit Population 79
Structural Poverty 62.7
Unemployment Rate 69
Poverty Rate 57
Income vs. State Median 58
Child Poverty Rate 53
Disability Rate 71
Transfer Income Dependency 68
Economic Vitality 39.7
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 37
Rent-to-Income Ratio 26
Business Formation Rate 76
House Price Change (YoY) 27
Housing Cost Burden 39.6
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 24
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 41
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 13
Homeownership Rate 89

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Fayette County
Fayette County, OH 61.0 Elevated —
Ross County, OH 71.3 Serious +10.4
Highland County, OH 55.5 Elevated -5.5
Pickaway County, OH 55.2 Elevated -5.8
Clinton County, OH 52.0 Elevated -9.0
Madison County, OH 46.9 Normal -14.1
Greene County, OH 39.2 Normal -21.8

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Fayette County
Greene County, MS 60.9 Elevated -0.0
Jackson County, TN 61.0 Elevated +0.0
Hocking County, OH 60.9 Elevated -0.1
Wayne County, WV 61.0 Elevated +0.1
Beckham County, OK 61.0 Elevated +0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Fayette 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 Fayette 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 Fayette County, Ohio?

    Fayette County has a County Distress Index score of 61.0 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 890th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 19th in Ohio out of 88 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Fayette County?

    The primary driver of distress in Fayette County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 88.0 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Fayette County compare to neighboring counties?

    Fayette County (61.0) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Ross County, OH (71.3); Highland County, OH (55.5); Pickaway County, OH (55.2).

  • 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). Fayette County's score of 61.0 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Fayette 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 Fayette County?

    Fayette County, Ohio has a population of approximately 28,817 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.