Hancock County, Ohio

County Distress Index: Normal · 44.7 | 74,704 people · 63rd most distressed in Ohio
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Hancock County, OH falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 44.7 — 1918th 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 63rd of 88 counties. Among its 7 neighboring counties, 4 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Hancock County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 73.1 — above the national median.

Legal Distress Primary driver 73.1
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 73
Housing Cost Burden 53.1
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 42
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 53
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 59
Homeownership Rate 73
Consumer Credit Distress 45.8
Debt in Collections 46
Medical Debt 66
Auto Loan Delinquency 43
Credit Card Delinquency 50
Uninsured Rate 13
Subprime Credit Population 44
Economic Vitality 26.5
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 11
Rent-to-Income Ratio 26
Business Formation Rate 62
House Price Change (YoY) 37
Structural Poverty 23.8
Unemployment Rate 45
Poverty Rate 25
Income vs. State Median 28
Child Poverty Rate 14
Disability Rate 24
Transfer Income Dependency 13

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Hancock County
Hancock County, OH 44.7 Normal —
Allen County, OH 57.3 Elevated +12.6
Hardin County, OH 54.9 Elevated +10.3
Seneca County, OH 51.6 Elevated +6.9
Wood County, OH 41.0 Normal -3.7
Wyandot County, OH 34.7 Healthy -10.0
Henry County, OH 32.5 Healthy -12.2
Putnam County, OH 25.6 Healthy -19.1

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Hancock County
Bay County, MI 44.7 Normal 0.0
Cascade County, MT 44.7 Normal +0.0
Lincoln County, NC 44.7 Normal +0.0
Champaign County, IL 44.6 Normal -0.1
Adams County, IL 44.8 Normal +0.2

Download Data

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

Find Help in Hancock 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 Hancock 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 Hancock County, Ohio?

    Hancock County has a County Distress Index score of 44.7 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 1,918th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 63rd in Ohio out of 88 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Hancock County?

    The primary driver of distress in Hancock County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 73.1 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Hancock County compare to neighboring counties?

    Hancock County (44.7) can be compared to its 7 neighboring counties: Allen County, OH (57.3); Hardin County, OH (54.9); Seneca County, OH (51.6).

  • 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 Normal 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). Hancock County's score of 44.7 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Hancock 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 Hancock County?

    Hancock County, Ohio has a population of approximately 74,704 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.