Guernsey County, Ohio

County Distress Index: Elevated · 60.7 | 38,089 people · 21st most distressed in Ohio
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Guernsey County, OH registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 60.7 — 903rd 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 21st 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. Guernsey County's primary driver is Structural Poverty at 74.5 — above the national median.

Structural Poverty Primary driver 74.5
Unemployment Rate 86
Poverty Rate 64
Income vs. State Median 86
Child Poverty Rate 68
Disability Rate 67
Transfer Income Dependency 74
Legal Distress 70.8
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 71
Housing Cost Burden 68.6
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 73
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 68
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 64
Homeownership Rate 64
Consumer Credit Distress 55.7
Debt in Collections 52
Medical Debt 47
Auto Loan Delinquency 66
Credit Card Delinquency 52
Uninsured Rate 65
Subprime Credit Population 56
Economic Vitality 39.5
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 24
Rent-to-Income Ratio 52
Business Formation Rate 72
House Price Change (YoY) 14

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Guernsey County
Guernsey County, OH 60.7 Elevated —
Muskingum County, OH 62.7 Elevated +2.0
Coshocton County, OH 58.4 Elevated -2.3
Belmont County, OH 56.3 Elevated -4.5
Harrison County, OH 55.6 Elevated -5.2
Tuscarawas County, OH 51.1 Elevated -9.7
Noble County, OH 39.9 Normal -20.8

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Guernsey County
Carroll County, KY 60.7 Elevated 0.0
Butler County, KY 60.7 Elevated -0.0
Miami County, IN 60.7 Elevated -0.0
Covington County, MS 60.7 Elevated -0.0
McDonough County, IL 60.7 Elevated -0.0

Download Data

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

Find Help in Guernsey 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 Guernsey 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 Guernsey County, Ohio?

    Guernsey County has a County Distress Index score of 60.7 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 903rd nationally out of 3,144 counties and 21st in Ohio out of 88 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Guernsey County?

    The primary driver of distress in Guernsey County is Structural Poverty, where the county scores 74.5 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Unemployment Rate, Poverty Rate, Income vs. State Median.

  • How does Guernsey County compare to neighboring counties?

    Guernsey County (60.7) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Muskingum County, OH (62.7); Coshocton County, OH (58.4); Belmont County, OH (56.3).

  • 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). Guernsey County's score of 60.7 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Guernsey 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 Guernsey County?

    Guernsey County, Ohio has a population of approximately 38,089 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.