Jefferson County, Ohio

County Distress Index: Elevated · 63.7 | 64,026 people · 14th most distressed in Ohio
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Jefferson County, OH registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 63.7 — 728th 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 14th of 88 counties. It scores higher than all 7 of its neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Jefferson County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 75.2 — worse than roughly 75% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 75.3
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 75
Structural Poverty 75.2
Unemployment Rate 80
Poverty Rate 68
Income vs. State Median 82
Child Poverty Rate 70
Disability Rate 66
Transfer Income Dependency 80
Consumer Credit Distress 64.5
Debt in Collections 71
Medical Debt 88
Auto Loan Delinquency 68
Credit Card Delinquency 59
Uninsured Rate 21
Subprime Credit Population 60
Housing Cost Burden 59.6
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 57
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 72
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 20
Homeownership Rate 63
Economic Vitality 43.1
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 29
Rent-to-Income Ratio 47
Business Formation Rate 91
House Price Change (YoY) 9

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Jefferson County
Jefferson County, OH 63.7 Elevated —
Hancock County, WV 60.5 Elevated -3.2
Columbiana County, OH 59.7 Elevated -3.9
Brooke County, WV 58.1 Elevated -5.5
Belmont County, OH 56.3 Elevated -7.4
Harrison County, OH 55.6 Elevated -8.1
Ohio County, WV 54.9 Elevated -8.7
Carroll County, OH 42.5 Normal -21.2

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Jefferson County
Valencia County, NM 63.7 Elevated +0.0
Lea County, NM 63.6 Elevated -0.0
San Juan County, NM 63.7 Elevated +0.0
Rankin County, MS 63.7 Elevated +0.1
Warren County, KY 63.8 Elevated +0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Jefferson 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 Jefferson 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 Jefferson County, Ohio?

    Jefferson County has a County Distress Index score of 63.7 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 728th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 14th in Ohio out of 88 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Jefferson County?

    The primary driver of distress in Jefferson County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 75.2 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Jefferson County compare to neighboring counties?

    Jefferson County (63.7) can be compared to its 7 neighboring counties: Hancock County, WV (60.5); Columbiana County, OH (59.7); Brooke County, WV (58.1).

  • 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). Jefferson County's score of 63.7 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Jefferson 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 Jefferson County?

    Jefferson County, Ohio has a population of approximately 64,026 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.