Gallia County, Ohio

County Distress Index: Elevated · 57.8 | 28,986 people · 29th most distressed in Ohio
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Gallia County, OH registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 57.8 — 1095th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Structural Poverty, where poverty rates are high, transfer income dependency is elevated, and household incomes lag well behind state and national medians. Within Ohio, it ranks 29th of 88 counties. Among its 6 neighboring counties, 4 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Gallia County's primary driver is Structural Poverty at 81.3 — worse than roughly 81% of U.S. counties.

Structural Poverty Primary driver 81.3
Unemployment Rate 74
Poverty Rate 75
Income vs. State Median 88
Child Poverty Rate 76
Disability Rate 79
Transfer Income Dependency 88
Legal Distress 79.8
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 80
Consumer Credit Distress 60.5
Debt in Collections 65
Medical Debt 30
Auto Loan Delinquency 50
Credit Card Delinquency 80
Uninsured Rate 67
Subprime Credit Population 66
Economic Vitality 53.3
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 43
Rent-to-Income Ratio 55
Business Formation Rate 97
House Price Change (YoY) 15
Housing Cost Burden 32.1
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 24
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 43
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 11
Homeownership Rate 39

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Gallia County
Gallia County, OH 57.8 Elevated —
Jackson County, OH 69.0 Serious +11.2
Cabell County, WV 68.2 Serious +10.4
Lawrence County, OH 64.9 Elevated +7.2
Meigs County, OH 58.8 Elevated +1.0
Vinton County, OH 53.7 Elevated -4.0
Mason County, WV 46.4 Normal -11.4

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Gallia County
Pickens County, GA 57.8 Elevated 0.0
Lincoln County, KY 57.8 Elevated 0.0
Franklin County, FL 57.8 Elevated -0.0
Knox County, IL 57.8 Elevated +0.0
Henderson County, TN 57.8 Elevated -0.0

Download Data

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

Find Help in Gallia 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 Gallia 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 Gallia County, Ohio?

    Gallia County has a County Distress Index score of 57.8 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 1,095th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 29th in Ohio out of 88 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Gallia County?

    The primary driver of distress in Gallia County is Structural Poverty, where the county scores 81.3 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Unemployment Rate, Poverty Rate, Income vs. State Median.

  • How does Gallia County compare to neighboring counties?

    Gallia County (57.8) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Jackson County, OH (69.0); Cabell County, WV (68.2); Lawrence County, OH (64.9).

  • 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). Gallia County's score of 57.8 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Gallia 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 Gallia County?

    Gallia County, Ohio has a population of approximately 28,986 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.