Medina County, Ohio

County Distress Index: Healthy · 30.7 | 184,042 people · 81st most distressed in Ohio
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Medina County, OH ranks among the least distressed counties in the country at 30.7 — 2719th 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 81st of 88 counties. It scores lower than all 5 of its neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Medina County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 67.6 — above the national median.

Legal Distress Primary driver 67.6
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 68
Housing Cost Burden 49.1
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 61
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 48
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 57
Homeownership Rate 19
Economic Vitality 43.3
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 62
Rent-to-Income Ratio 12
Business Formation Rate 52
House Price Change (YoY) 27
Consumer Credit Distress 19.4
Debt in Collections 15
Medical Debt 37
Auto Loan Delinquency 31
Credit Card Delinquency 13
Uninsured Rate 9
Subprime Credit Population 13
Structural Poverty 11.4
Unemployment Rate 19
Poverty Rate 5
Income vs. State Median 7
Child Poverty Rate 7
Disability Rate 21
Transfer Income Dependency 11

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Medina County
Medina County, OH 30.7 Healthy —
Cuyahoga County, OH 63.7 Elevated +32.9
Summit County, OH 56.9 Elevated +26.2
Lorain County, OH 54.9 Elevated +24.2
Ashland County, OH 45.0 Normal +14.3
Wayne County, OH 34.9 Healthy +4.2

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Medina County
Eau Claire County, WI 30.7 Healthy -0.0
Saratoga County, NY 30.9 Healthy +0.2
Dodge County, WI 31.0 Healthy +0.3
Windsor County, VT 31.1 Healthy +0.4
Olmsted County, MN 30.0 Healthy -0.7

Download Data

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

Find Help in Medina 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 Medina 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 Medina County, Ohio?

    Medina County has a County Distress Index score of 30.7 out of 100, placing it in the Healthy zone. It ranks 2,719th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 81st in Ohio out of 88 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Medina County?

    The primary driver of distress in Medina County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 67.6 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Medina County compare to neighboring counties?

    Medina County (30.7) can be compared to its 5 neighboring counties: Cuyahoga County, OH (63.7); Summit County, OH (56.9); Lorain County, OH (54.9).

  • 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 Healthy 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). Medina County's score of 30.7 sits in the Healthy zone (below 46).

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

    Medina 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 Medina County?

    Medina County, Ohio has a population of approximately 184,042 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.