Montgomery County, Ohio

County Distress Index: Serious · 66.5 | 533,796 people · 10th most distressed in Ohio
American Default Research

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Montgomery County, OH shows significant household financial distress with a score of 66.5 — 577th 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 10th of 88 counties. Among its 7 neighboring counties, 6 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Montgomery County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 82.1 — worse than roughly 82% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 82.1
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 82
Housing Cost Burden 73.2
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 71
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 69
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 71
Homeownership Rate 90
Consumer Credit Distress 67.4
Debt in Collections 76
Medical Debt 72
Auto Loan Delinquency 70
Credit Card Delinquency 70
Uninsured Rate 35
Subprime Credit Population 64
Structural Poverty 54.7
Unemployment Rate 67
Poverty Rate 63
Income vs. State Median 60
Child Poverty Rate 67
Disability Rate 44
Transfer Income Dependency 36
Economic Vitality 50.7
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 49
Rent-to-Income Ratio 76
Business Formation Rate 26
House Price Change (YoY) 27

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Montgomery County
Montgomery County, OH 66.5 Serious —
Clark County, OH 69.1 Serious +2.6
Butler County, OH 53.1 Elevated -13.4
Miami County, OH 49.7 Normal -16.8
Preble County, OH 44.9 Normal -21.6
Greene County, OH 39.2 Normal -27.3
Darke County, OH 38.3 Normal -28.2
Warren County, OH 27.7 Healthy -38.8

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Montgomery County
Hampden County, MA 66.5 Serious -0.0
Tulare County, CA 66.6 Serious +0.1
Jackson County, MO 66.3 Serious -0.2
Lucas County, OH 66.8 Serious +0.3
Atlantic County, NJ 66.9 Serious +0.4

Download Data

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

Find Help in Montgomery County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Montgomery County.

HORIZON HOUSING COMMUNITIES DEVELOPMENT FOR OHIO (HHCDO)
Dayton
937-259-8870
Foreclosure PreventionFinancial CounselingFair HousingPost-Purchase
MIAMI VALLEY COMMUNITY ACTION PARTNERSHIP
Dayton
937-341-5000 Website
Foreclosure PreventionMortgage HelpFinancial CounselingPost-Purchase
NID-HCA DAYTON
DAYTON
937-567-0990 Website
Foreclosure PreventionMortgage HelpHome Improvement/RehabHomeless/Displacement
NID-HCA TROTWOOD
Trotwood
937-589-0155 Website
Foreclosure PreventionMortgage HelpFinancial CounselingHome Improvement/Rehab

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 Montgomery 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 Montgomery County, Ohio?

    Montgomery County has a County Distress Index score of 66.5 out of 100, placing it in the Serious zone. It ranks 577th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 10th in Ohio out of 88 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Montgomery County?

    The primary driver of distress in Montgomery County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 82.1 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Montgomery County compare to neighboring counties?

    Montgomery County (66.5) can be compared to its 7 neighboring counties: Clark County, OH (69.1); Butler County, OH (53.1); Miami County, OH (49.7).

  • 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). Montgomery County's score of 66.5 sits in the Serious zone (71–86).

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

    Montgomery 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 Montgomery County?

    Montgomery County, Ohio has a population of approximately 533,796 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a large county.