Harrison County, Ohio

County Distress Index: Elevated · 55.6 | 14,159 people · 34th most distressed in Ohio
American Default Research

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Harrison County, OH registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 55.6 — 1231st 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 34th of 88 counties. Among its 5 neighboring counties, 3 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Harrison County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 72.3 — above the national median.

Legal Distress Primary driver 72.3
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 72
Structural Poverty 66.5
Unemployment Rate 72
Poverty Rate 58
Income vs. State Median 80
Child Poverty Rate 60
Disability Rate 52
Transfer Income Dependency 70
Consumer Credit Distress 56.1
Debt in Collections 58
Medical Debt 66
Auto Loan Delinquency 61
Credit Card Delinquency 38
Uninsured Rate 80
Subprime Credit Population 49
Housing Cost Burden 49.9
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 38
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 76
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 22
Homeownership Rate 37
Economic Vitality 36.8
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 5
Rent-to-Income Ratio 44
Business Formation Rate 79
House Price Change (YoY) 95

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Harrison County
Harrison County, OH 55.6 Elevated —
Jefferson County, OH 63.7 Elevated +8.1
Guernsey County, OH 60.7 Elevated +5.2
Belmont County, OH 56.3 Elevated +0.7
Tuscarawas County, OH 51.1 Elevated -4.5
Carroll County, OH 42.5 Normal -13.1

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Harrison County
Pulaski County, VA 55.6 Elevated 0.0
Habersham County, GA 55.6 Elevated +0.0
McClain County, OK 55.6 Elevated +0.0
Moore County, TX 55.6 Elevated +0.0
Hancock County, MS 55.5 Elevated -0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Harrison 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 Harrison 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 Harrison County, Ohio?

    Harrison County has a County Distress Index score of 55.6 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 1,231st nationally out of 3,144 counties and 34th in Ohio out of 88 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Harrison County?

    The primary driver of distress in Harrison County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 72.3 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Harrison County compare to neighboring counties?

    Harrison County (55.6) can be compared to its 5 neighboring counties: Jefferson County, OH (63.7); Guernsey County, OH (60.7); 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). Harrison County's score of 55.6 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Harrison 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 Harrison County?

    Harrison County, Ohio has a population of approximately 14,159 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.