Hocking County, Ohio

County Distress Index: Elevated · 60.9 | 27,540 people · 20th most distressed in Ohio
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Hocking County, OH registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 60.9 — 895th 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 20th 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. Hocking County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 81.0 — worse than roughly 81% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 81.0
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 81
Structural Poverty 72.4
Unemployment Rate 78
Poverty Rate 67
Income vs. State Median 76
Child Poverty Rate 67
Disability Rate 65
Transfer Income Dependency 77
Economic Vitality 69.8
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 82
Rent-to-Income Ratio 41
Business Formation Rate 72
House Price Change (YoY) 91
Consumer Credit Distress 58.9
Debt in Collections 67
Medical Debt 61
Auto Loan Delinquency 50
Credit Card Delinquency 50
Uninsured Rate 32
Subprime Credit Population 73
Housing Cost Burden 47.8
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 64
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 35
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 68
Homeownership Rate 25

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Hocking County
Hocking County, OH 60.9 Elevated —
Ross County, OH 71.3 Serious +10.4
Athens County, OH 59.8 Elevated -1.1
Perry County, OH 58.8 Elevated -2.1
Pickaway County, OH 55.2 Elevated -5.7
Vinton County, OH 53.7 Elevated -7.2
Fairfield County, OH 50.1 Elevated -10.8

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Hocking County
Greene County, MS 60.9 Elevated +0.0
Fayette County, OH 61.0 Elevated +0.1
Custer County, OK 60.9 Elevated -0.1
Jackson County, TN 61.0 Elevated +0.1
Wayne County, WV 61.0 Elevated +0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Hocking 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 Hocking 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 Hocking County, Ohio?

    Hocking County has a County Distress Index score of 60.9 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 895th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 20th in Ohio out of 88 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Hocking County?

    The primary driver of distress in Hocking County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 81.0 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Hocking County compare to neighboring counties?

    Hocking County (60.9) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Ross County, OH (71.3); Athens County, OH (59.8); Perry County, OH (58.8).

  • 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). Hocking County's score of 60.9 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Hocking 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 Hocking County?

    Hocking County, Ohio has a population of approximately 27,540 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.