Lawrence County, Ohio

County Distress Index: Elevated · 64.9 | 56,118 people · 13th most distressed in Ohio
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Lawrence County, OH registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 64.9 — 644th 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 13th of 88 counties. Among its 7 neighboring counties, 4 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Lawrence County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 84.8 — worse than roughly 85% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 84.8
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 85
Structural Poverty 77.6
Unemployment Rate 69
Poverty Rate 72
Income vs. State Median 80
Child Poverty Rate 65
Disability Rate 91
Transfer Income Dependency 83
Consumer Credit Distress 70.0
Debt in Collections 74
Medical Debt 61
Auto Loan Delinquency 78
Credit Card Delinquency 84
Uninsured Rate 19
Subprime Credit Population 73
Economic Vitality 57.0
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 47
Rent-to-Income Ratio 45
Business Formation Rate 86
House Price Change (YoY) 89
Housing Cost Burden 43.0
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 42
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 42
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 25
Homeownership Rate 60

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Lawrence County
Lawrence County, OH 64.9 Elevated —
Jackson County, OH 69.0 Serious +4.0
Scioto County, OH 68.5 Serious +3.5
Cabell County, WV 68.2 Serious +3.2
Boyd County, KY 65.8 Serious +0.9
Wayne County, WV 61.0 Elevated -3.9
Gallia County, OH 57.8 Elevated -7.2
Greenup County, KY 57.6 Elevated -7.3

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Lawrence County
Smith County, TX 64.9 Elevated -0.1
Pulaski County, KY 64.9 Elevated -0.1
Salem County, NJ 64.8 Elevated -0.2
Calhoun County, MI 65.1 Serious +0.2
Navajo County, AZ 65.2 Serious +0.2

Download Data

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

Find Help in Lawrence 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 Lawrence 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 Lawrence County, Ohio?

    Lawrence County has a County Distress Index score of 64.9 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 644th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 13th in Ohio out of 88 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Lawrence County?

    The primary driver of distress in Lawrence County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 84.8 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Lawrence County compare to neighboring counties?

    Lawrence County (64.9) can be compared to its 7 neighboring counties: Jackson County, OH (69.0); Scioto County, OH (68.5); Cabell County, WV (68.2).

  • 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). Lawrence County's score of 64.9 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Lawrence 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 Lawrence County?

    Lawrence County, Ohio has a population of approximately 56,118 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.