Lorain County, Ohio

County Distress Index: Elevated · 54.9 | 317,910 people · 39th most distressed in Ohio
American Default Research

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Lorain County, OH registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 54.9 — 1279th 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 39th of 88 counties. Among its 5 neighboring counties, 3 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Lorain County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 82.6 — worse than roughly 83% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 82.6
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 83
Housing Cost Burden 72.9
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 72
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 84
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 67
Homeownership Rate 54
Economic Vitality 55.5
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 69
Rent-to-Income Ratio 43
Business Formation Rate 55
House Price Change (YoY) 27
Consumer Credit Distress 48.6
Debt in Collections 52
Medical Debt 65
Auto Loan Delinquency 43
Credit Card Delinquency 52
Uninsured Rate 21
Subprime Credit Population 48
Structural Poverty 32.0
Unemployment Rate 49
Poverty Rate 29
Income vs. State Median 21
Child Poverty Rate 35
Disability Rate 39
Transfer Income Dependency 29

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Lorain County
Lorain County, OH 54.9 Elevated —
Cuyahoga County, OH 63.7 Elevated +8.8
Huron County, OH 55.3 Elevated +0.4
Erie County, OH 52.5 Elevated -2.4
Ashland County, OH 45.0 Normal -9.9
Medina County, OH 30.7 Healthy -24.2

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Lorain County
Erie County, PA 54.8 Elevated -0.1
Canyon County, ID 54.8 Elevated -0.1
Delaware County, PA 55.2 Elevated +0.3
Orange County, NY 54.5 Elevated -0.4
Mercer County, NJ 55.4 Elevated +0.5

Download Data

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

Find Help in Lorain County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Lorain County.

EL CENTRO DE SERVICIOS SOCIALES (OH)
Lorain
440-277-8235 Website
Foreclosure PreventionHome Improvement/RehabPost-PurchasePre-Purchase
EL CENTRO DE SERVICIOS SOCIALES, INC
Lorain
440-277-8235 Website
Financial CounselingFinancial CounselingPre-Lease/Pre-PurchasePre-Purchase
LORAIN COUNTY URBAN LEAGUE
Elyria
440-323-3364
Foreclosure PreventionFinancial CounselingPre-Purchase
LORAIN METROPOLITAN HOUSING AUTHORITY
Lorain
440-288-1600 Website
Foreclosure PreventionMortgage HelpFinancial CounselingFair Housing

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 Lorain 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 Lorain County, Ohio?

    Lorain County has a County Distress Index score of 54.9 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 1,279th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 39th in Ohio out of 88 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Lorain County?

    The primary driver of distress in Lorain County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 82.6 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Lorain County compare to neighboring counties?

    Lorain County (54.9) can be compared to its 5 neighboring counties: Cuyahoga County, OH (63.7); Huron County, OH (55.3); Erie County, OH (52.5).

  • 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 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). Lorain County's score of 54.9 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Lorain 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 Lorain County?

    Lorain County, Ohio has a population of approximately 317,910 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a large county.