Lucas County, Ohio

County Distress Index: Serious · 66.8 | 425,484 people · 9th most distressed in Ohio
American Default Research

Behind on your mortgage or facing eviction? Take a 2-minute assessment to see your options.

Lucas County, OH shows significant household financial distress with a score of 66.8 — 560th 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 9th of 88 counties. It scores higher than all 6 of its neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Lucas County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 88.7 — worse than roughly 89% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 88.7
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 89
Housing Cost Burden 72.2
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 66
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 74
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 58
Homeownership Rate 91
Consumer Credit Distress 69.3
Debt in Collections 75
Medical Debt 73
Auto Loan Delinquency 82
Credit Card Delinquency 68
Uninsured Rate 21
Subprime Credit Population 70
Structural Poverty 63.1
Unemployment Rate 80
Poverty Rate 79
Income vs. State Median 68
Child Poverty Rate 78
Disability Rate 43
Transfer Income Dependency 43
Economic Vitality 28.7
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 12
Rent-to-Income Ratio 52
Business Formation Rate 33
House Price Change (YoY) 33

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Lucas County
Lucas County, OH 66.8 Serious —
Lenawee County, MI 51.8 Elevated -15.0
Monroe County, MI 48.7 Normal -18.1
Wood County, OH 41.0 Normal -25.8
Ottawa County, OH 35.8 Normal -31.1
Fulton County, OH 34.0 Healthy -32.8
Henry County, OH 32.5 Healthy -34.4

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Lucas County
Atlantic County, NJ 66.9 Serious +0.1
Tulare County, CA 66.6 Serious -0.2
Montgomery County, OH 66.5 Serious -0.3
Hampden County, MA 66.5 Serious -0.4
Lake County, IN 67.2 Serious +0.4

Download Data

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

Find Help in Lucas County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Lucas County.

NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSING SERVICES OF TOLEDO, INC
Toledo
419-691-2900 Website
Foreclosure PreventionFinancial CounselingPre-PurchaseHomebuyer Education
NID LUCAS COUNTY
Toledo
419-504-5188 Website
Foreclosure PreventionMortgage HelpFinancial CounselingHome Improvement/Rehab
OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY EXTENSION - LUCAS COUNTY
Toledo
419-574-0983 Website
Financial CounselingFinancial CounselingPre-PurchaseHomebuyer Education

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 Lucas 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 →

Continue Reading

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the distress score for Lucas County, Ohio?

    Lucas County has a County Distress Index score of 66.8 out of 100, placing it in the Serious zone. It ranks 560th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 9th in Ohio out of 88 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Lucas County?

    The primary driver of distress in Lucas County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 88.7 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Lucas County compare to neighboring counties?

    Lucas County (66.8) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Lenawee County, MI (51.8); Monroe County, MI (48.7); Wood County, OH (41.0).

  • 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 Serious 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). Lucas County's score of 66.8 sits in the Serious zone (71–86).

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

    Lucas 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 Lucas County?

    Lucas County, Ohio has a population of approximately 425,484 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a large county.