Madison County, Ohio

County Distress Index: Normal · 46.9 | 44,602 people · 58th most distressed in Ohio
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Madison County, OH falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 46.9 — 1786th 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 58th 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. Madison County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 79.0 — worse than roughly 79% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 79.0
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 79
Economic Vitality 66.0
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 84
Rent-to-Income Ratio 49
Business Formation Rate 60
House Price Change (YoY) 35
Consumer Credit Distress 49.8
Debt in Collections 56
Medical Debt 52
Auto Loan Delinquency 61
Credit Card Delinquency 41
Uninsured Rate 45
Subprime Credit Population 41
Housing Cost Burden 36.4
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 38
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 26
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 57
Homeownership Rate 42
Structural Poverty 23.5
Unemployment Rate 45
Poverty Rate 15
Income vs. State Median 13
Child Poverty Rate 18
Disability Rate 40
Transfer Income Dependency 19

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Madison County
Madison County, OH 46.9 Normal —
Clark County, OH 69.1 Serious +22.3
Franklin County, OH 62.4 Elevated +15.6
Fayette County, OH 61.0 Elevated +14.1
Pickaway County, OH 55.2 Elevated +8.4
Champaign County, OH 47.6 Normal +0.8
Greene County, OH 39.2 Normal -7.7
Union County, OH 25.5 Healthy -21.4

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Madison County
Manistee County, MI 46.9 Normal -0.0
Callaway County, MO 46.8 Normal -0.0
Colusa County, CA 46.8 Normal -0.1
Salem city, VA 47.0 Normal +0.1
Fayette County, TX 46.7 Normal -0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Madison 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 Madison 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 Madison County, Ohio?

    Madison County has a County Distress Index score of 46.9 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 1,786th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 58th in Ohio out of 88 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Madison County?

    The primary driver of distress in Madison County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 79.0 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Madison County compare to neighboring counties?

    Madison County (46.9) can be compared to its 7 neighboring counties: Clark County, OH (69.1); Franklin County, OH (62.4); Fayette County, OH (61.0).

  • 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 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). Madison County's score of 46.9 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Madison 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 Madison County?

    Madison County, Ohio has a population of approximately 44,602 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.