Licking County, Ohio

County Distress Index: Normal · 47.7 | 183,201 people · 54th most distressed in Ohio
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Licking County, OH falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 47.7 — 1730th 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 54th of 88 counties. Among its 7 neighboring counties, 5 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Licking County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 65.9 — above the national median.

Legal Distress Primary driver 65.9
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 66
Economic Vitality 64.8
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 78
Rent-to-Income Ratio 62
Business Formation Rate 46
House Price Change (YoY) 42
Housing Cost Burden 60.5
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 51
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 67
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 81
Homeownership Rate 54
Consumer Credit Distress 41.6
Debt in Collections 46
Medical Debt 36
Auto Loan Delinquency 40
Credit Card Delinquency 48
Uninsured Rate 22
Subprime Credit Population 43
Structural Poverty 26.7
Unemployment Rate 45
Poverty Rate 18
Income vs. State Median 20
Child Poverty Rate 18
Disability Rate 47
Transfer Income Dependency 20

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Licking County
Licking County, OH 47.7 Normal —
Muskingum County, OH 62.7 Elevated +15.0
Franklin County, OH 62.4 Elevated +14.7
Perry County, OH 58.8 Elevated +11.1
Coshocton County, OH 58.4 Elevated +10.7
Fairfield County, OH 50.1 Elevated +2.4
Knox County, OH 42.4 Normal -5.4
Delaware County, OH 21.0 Healthy -26.8

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Licking County
Elko County, NV 47.7 Normal -0.0
Lake County, OH 47.6 Normal -0.1
Indiana County, PA 47.6 Normal -0.1
Douglas County, KS 47.8 Normal +0.1
Yavapai County, AZ 47.9 Normal +0.2

Download Data

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

Find Help in Licking 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 Licking 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 Licking County, Ohio?

    Licking County has a County Distress Index score of 47.7 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 1,730th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 54th in Ohio out of 88 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Licking County?

    The primary driver of distress in Licking County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 65.9 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Licking County compare to neighboring counties?

    Licking County (47.7) can be compared to its 7 neighboring counties: Muskingum County, OH (62.7); Franklin County, OH (62.4); 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 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). Licking County's score of 47.7 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Licking 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 Licking County?

    Licking County, Ohio has a population of approximately 183,201 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.