Geauga County, Ohio

County Distress Index: Healthy · 22.4 | 95,407 people · 86th most distressed in Ohio
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Geauga County, OH ranks among the least distressed counties in the country at 22.4 — 3026th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Economic Vitality, where wages keep pace with costs, business formation is healthy, and the local economy shows resilience. Within Ohio, it ranks 86th of 88 counties. It scores lower than all 6 of its neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Geauga County's primary driver is Economic Vitality at 42.3 — above the national median.

Economic Vitality Primary driver 42.3
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 66
Rent-to-Income Ratio 4
Business Formation Rate 40
House Price Change (YoY) 41
Housing Cost Burden 38.5
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 42
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 41
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 72
Homeownership Rate 1
Legal Distress 32.1
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 32
Consumer Credit Distress 14.2
Debt in Collections 6
Medical Debt 36
Auto Loan Delinquency 7
Credit Card Delinquency 9
Uninsured Rate 55
Subprime Credit Population 4
Structural Poverty 6.4
Unemployment Rate 27
Poverty Rate 1
Income vs. State Median 4
Child Poverty Rate 1
Disability Rate 5
Transfer Income Dependency 5

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Geauga County
Geauga County, OH 22.4 Healthy —
Ashtabula County, OH 72.3 Serious +49.8
Trumbull County, OH 66.0 Serious +43.6
Cuyahoga County, OH 63.7 Elevated +41.2
Summit County, OH 56.9 Elevated +34.4
Portage County, OH 54.2 Elevated +31.8
Lake County, OH 47.6 Normal +25.2

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Geauga County
Carver County, MN 22.0 Healthy -0.4
Arlington County, VA 23.5 Healthy +1.0
Ozaukee County, WI 21.3 Healthy -1.1
Delaware County, OH 21.0 Healthy -1.5
Dallas County, IA 24.2 Healthy +1.7

Download Data

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

Find Help in Geauga 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 Geauga 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 Geauga County, Ohio?

    Geauga County has a County Distress Index score of 22.4 out of 100, placing it in the Healthy zone. It ranks 3,026th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 86th in Ohio out of 88 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Geauga County?

    The primary driver of distress in Geauga County is Economic Vitality, where the county scores 42.3 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Wage-to-Rent Ratio, Rent-to-Income Ratio, Business Formation Rate.

  • How does Geauga County compare to neighboring counties?

    Geauga County (22.4) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Ashtabula County, OH (72.3); Trumbull County, OH (66.0); Cuyahoga County, OH (63.7).

  • 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 Healthy 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). Geauga County's score of 22.4 sits in the Healthy zone (below 46).

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

    Geauga 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 Geauga County?

    Geauga County, Ohio has a population of approximately 95,407 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.