Jackson County, Ohio

County Distress Index: Serious · 69.0 | 32,606 people · 4th most distressed in Ohio
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Jackson County, OH shows significant household financial distress with a score of 69.0 — 440th 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 4th 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. Jackson County's primary driver is Structural Poverty at 83.0 — worse than roughly 83% of U.S. counties.

Structural Poverty Primary driver 83.0
Unemployment Rate 87
Poverty Rate 75
Income vs. State Median 86
Child Poverty Rate 71
Disability Rate 90
Transfer Income Dependency 86
Legal Distress 77.3
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 77
Consumer Credit Distress 70.0
Debt in Collections 76
Medical Debt 45
Auto Loan Delinquency 80
Credit Card Delinquency 91
Uninsured Rate 35
Subprime Credit Population 69
Housing Cost Burden 59.3
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 42
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 83
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 44
Homeownership Rate 55
Economic Vitality 59.1
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 54
Rent-to-Income Ratio 53
Business Formation Rate 77
House Price Change (YoY) 67

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Jackson County
Jackson County, OH 69.0 Serious —
Ross County, OH 71.3 Serious +2.4
Pike County, OH 68.7 Serious -0.3
Scioto County, OH 68.5 Serious -0.5
Lawrence County, OH 64.9 Elevated -4.0
Gallia County, OH 57.8 Elevated -11.2
Vinton County, OH 53.7 Elevated -15.2

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Jackson County
Madison County, TX 69.0 Serious +0.0
Nolan County, TX 68.9 Serious -0.1
Curry County, NM 68.9 Serious -0.1
Essex County, VA 69.0 Serious +0.1
Washington County, MO 69.1 Serious +0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Jackson 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 Jackson 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 Jackson County, Ohio?

    Jackson County has a County Distress Index score of 69.0 out of 100, placing it in the Serious zone. It ranks 440th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 4th in Ohio out of 88 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Jackson County?

    The primary driver of distress in Jackson County is Structural Poverty, where the county scores 83.0 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Unemployment Rate, Poverty Rate, Income vs. State Median.

  • How does Jackson County compare to neighboring counties?

    Jackson County (69.0) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Ross County, OH (71.3); Pike County, OH (68.7); Scioto County, OH (68.5).

  • 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 Serious 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). Jackson County's score of 69.0 sits in the Serious zone (71–86).

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

    Jackson 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 Jackson County?

    Jackson County, Ohio has a population of approximately 32,606 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.