Lake County, Ohio

County Distress Index: Normal · 47.6 | 231,640 people · 56th most distressed in Ohio
American Default Research

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Lake County, OH falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 47.6 — 1737th 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 56th of 88 counties. Among its 3 neighboring counties, 2 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Lake County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 85.9 — worse than roughly 86% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 85.9
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 86
Housing Cost Burden 65.4
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 72
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 66
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 67
Homeownership Rate 46
Economic Vitality 51.9
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 58
Rent-to-Income Ratio 48
Business Formation Rate 50
House Price Change (YoY) 34
Consumer Credit Distress 38.0
Debt in Collections 37
Medical Debt 50
Auto Loan Delinquency 45
Credit Card Delinquency 39
Uninsured Rate 16
Subprime Credit Population 33
Structural Poverty 28.6
Unemployment Rate 38
Poverty Rate 21
Income vs. State Median 25
Child Poverty Rate 36
Disability Rate 33
Transfer Income Dependency 25

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Lake County
Lake County, OH 47.6 Normal —
Ashtabula County, OH 72.3 Serious +24.7
Cuyahoga County, OH 63.7 Elevated +16.0
Geauga County, OH 22.4 Healthy -25.2

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Lake County
Indiana County, PA 47.6 Normal 0.0
Elko County, NV 47.7 Normal +0.1
Licking County, OH 47.7 Normal +0.1
Pulaski County, MO 47.5 Normal -0.1
Douglas County, KS 47.8 Normal +0.2

Download Data

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

Find Help in Lake County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Lake County.

FAIR HOUSING RESOURCE CENTER
Painesville
440-392-0147 Website
Foreclosure PreventionMortgage HelpFinancial CounselingFinancial Counseling

See all counselors in Ohio →

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 Lake 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 Lake County, Ohio?

    Lake County has a County Distress Index score of 47.6 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 1,737th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 56th in Ohio out of 88 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Lake County?

    The primary driver of distress in Lake County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 85.9 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Lake County compare to neighboring counties?

    Lake County (47.6) can be compared to its 3 neighboring counties: Ashtabula County, OH (72.3); Cuyahoga County, OH (63.7); Geauga County, OH (22.4).

  • 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). Lake County's score of 47.6 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Lake 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 Lake County?

    Lake County, Ohio has a population of approximately 231,640 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.