Hamilton County, Ohio

County Distress Index: Elevated · 60.1 | 827,058 people · 22nd most distressed in Ohio
American Default Research

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Hamilton County, OH registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 60.1 — 941st nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Housing Cost Burden, where a large share of households spend more than 30% of income on housing. Within Ohio, it ranks 22nd of 88 counties. It scores higher than all 8 of its neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Hamilton County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 82.8 — worse than roughly 83% of U.S. counties.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 82.8
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 78
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 85
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 76
Homeownership Rate 94
Legal Distress 78.9
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 79
Consumer Credit Distress 59.5
Debt in Collections 68
Medical Debt 54
Auto Loan Delinquency 79
Credit Card Delinquency 50
Uninsured Rate 27
Subprime Credit Population 58
Structural Poverty 33.8
Unemployment Rate 52
Poverty Rate 50
Income vs. State Median 37
Child Poverty Rate 45
Disability Rate 21
Transfer Income Dependency 10
Economic Vitality 32.4
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 14
Rent-to-Income Ratio 71
Business Formation Rate 13
House Price Change (YoY) 47

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Hamilton County
Hamilton County, OH 60.1 Elevated —
Butler County, OH 53.1 Elevated -7.0
Kenton County, KY 48.0 Normal -12.1
Clermont County, OH 47.2 Normal -12.9
Campbell County, KY 45.6 Normal -14.6
Boone County, KY 42.5 Normal -17.6
Dearborn County, IN 42.5 Normal -17.7
Franklin County, IN 30.7 Healthy -29.5
Warren County, OH 27.7 Healthy -32.4

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Hamilton County
Forsyth County, NC 60.1 Elevated -0.0
Adams County, CO 60.3 Elevated +0.2
Rutherford County, TN 59.9 Elevated -0.2
Providence County, RI 59.9 Elevated -0.2
St. Joseph County, IN 59.9 Elevated -0.3

Download Data

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

Find Help in Hamilton County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Hamilton County.

HOME OWNERSHIP CENTER OF GREATER CINCINNATI
Cincinnati
513-961-2800 Website
Foreclosure PreventionFinancial CounselingPre-PurchaseHomebuyer Education
WORKING IN NEIGHBORHOODS
Cincinnati
513-541-4109
Foreclosure PreventionMortgage HelpFinancial CounselingPost-Purchase

See all counselors in Ohio →

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 Hamilton 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 Hamilton County, Ohio?

    Hamilton County has a County Distress Index score of 60.1 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 941st nationally out of 3,144 counties and 22nd in Ohio out of 88 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Hamilton County?

    The primary driver of distress in Hamilton County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 82.8 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Hamilton County compare to neighboring counties?

    Hamilton County (60.1) can be compared to its 8 neighboring counties: Butler County, OH (53.1); Kenton County, KY (48.0); Clermont County, OH (47.2).

  • 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). Hamilton County's score of 60.1 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Hamilton 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 Hamilton County?

    Hamilton County, Ohio has a population of approximately 827,058 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a large county.