Marion County, Ohio

County Distress Index: Serious · 68.2 | 64,851 people · 7th most distressed in Ohio
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Marion County, OH shows significant household financial distress with a score of 68.2 — 476th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Consumer Credit Distress, where residents carry heavy debt burdens with elevated delinquency and collections rates. Within Ohio, it ranks 7th 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. Marion County's primary driver is Consumer Credit Distress at 70.8 — above the national median.

Consumer Credit Distress Primary driver 70.8
Debt in Collections 81
Medical Debt 82
Auto Loan Delinquency 72
Credit Card Delinquency 67
Uninsured Rate 21
Subprime Credit Population 74
Housing Cost Burden 70.0
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 73
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 71
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 47
Homeownership Rate 78
Structural Poverty 68.8
Unemployment Rate 58
Poverty Rate 68
Income vs. State Median 80
Child Poverty Rate 62
Disability Rate 65
Transfer Income Dependency 72
Legal Distress 67.8
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 68
Economic Vitality 50.3
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 35
Rent-to-Income Ratio 62
Business Formation Rate 74
House Price Change (YoY) 46

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Marion County
Marion County, OH 68.2 Serious —
Crawford County, OH 55.9 Elevated -12.3
Hardin County, OH 54.9 Elevated -13.3
Morrow County, OH 48.7 Normal -19.5
Wyandot County, OH 34.7 Healthy -33.6
Union County, OH 25.5 Healthy -42.8
Delaware County, OH 21.0 Healthy -47.3

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Marion County
Camden County, GA 68.2 Serious -0.0
Roanoke city, VA 68.3 Serious +0.0
Monroe County, PA 68.2 Serious -0.0
Cabell County, WV 68.2 Serious -0.1
Atascosa County, TX 68.4 Serious +0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Marion 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 Marion 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 Marion County, Ohio?

    Marion County has a County Distress Index score of 68.2 out of 100, placing it in the Serious zone. It ranks 476th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 7th in Ohio out of 88 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Marion County?

    The primary driver of distress in Marion County is Consumer Credit Distress, where the county scores 70.8 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Debt in Collections, Medical Debt, Auto Loan Delinquency.

  • How does Marion County compare to neighboring counties?

    Marion County (68.2) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Crawford County, OH (55.9); Hardin County, OH (54.9); Morrow County, OH (48.7).

  • 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). Marion County's score of 68.2 sits in the Serious zone (71–86).

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

    Marion 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 Marion County?

    Marion County, Ohio has a population of approximately 64,851 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.