Meigs County, Ohio

County Distress Index: Elevated · 58.8 | 21,767 people · 26th most distressed in Ohio
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Meigs County, OH registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 58.8 — 1033rd nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Structural Poverty, where poverty rates are high, transfer income dependency is elevated, and household incomes lag well behind state and national medians. Within Ohio, it ranks 26th of 88 counties. Among its 6 neighboring counties, 5 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Meigs County's primary driver is Structural Poverty at 90.0 — worse than roughly 90% of U.S. counties.

Structural Poverty Primary driver 90.0
Unemployment Rate 94
Poverty Rate 88
Income vs. State Median 94
Child Poverty Rate 90
Disability Rate 89
Transfer Income Dependency 85
Legal Distress 72.8
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 73
Economic Vitality 72.7
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 71
Rent-to-Income Ratio 69
Business Formation Rate 89
House Price Change (YoY) 63
Consumer Credit Distress 55.1
Debt in Collections 57
Medical Debt 30
Auto Loan Delinquency 51
Credit Card Delinquency 72
Uninsured Rate 41
Subprime Credit Population 65
Housing Cost Burden 36.9
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 35
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 36
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 34
Homeownership Rate 45

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Meigs County
Meigs County, OH 58.8 Elevated —
Athens County, OH 59.8 Elevated +1.1
Gallia County, OH 57.8 Elevated -1.0
Vinton County, OH 53.7 Elevated -5.0
Wood County, WV 51.5 Elevated -7.3
Jackson County, WV 48.1 Normal -10.6
Mason County, WV 46.4 Normal -12.3

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Meigs County
Hart County, KY 58.8 Elevated -0.0
Cedar County, MO 58.8 Elevated +0.0
Blackford County, IN 58.7 Elevated -0.0
Perry County, OH 58.8 Elevated +0.1
Alamosa County, CO 58.7 Elevated -0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Meigs 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 Meigs 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 Meigs County, Ohio?

    Meigs County has a County Distress Index score of 58.8 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 1,033rd nationally out of 3,144 counties and 26th in Ohio out of 88 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Meigs County?

    The primary driver of distress in Meigs County is Structural Poverty, where the county scores 90.0 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Unemployment Rate, Poverty Rate, Income vs. State Median.

  • How does Meigs County compare to neighboring counties?

    Meigs County (58.8) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Athens County, OH (59.8); Gallia County, OH (57.8); Vinton County, OH (53.7).

  • 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 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). Meigs County's score of 58.8 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Meigs 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 Meigs County?

    Meigs County, Ohio has a population of approximately 21,767 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.