Morgan County, Ohio

County Distress Index: Elevated · 51.8 | 13,646 people · 46th most distressed in Ohio
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Morgan County, OH registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 51.8 — 1468th 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 46th of 88 counties. Among its 5 neighboring counties, 3 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Morgan County's primary driver is Structural Poverty at 79.4 — worse than roughly 79% of U.S. counties.

Structural Poverty Primary driver 79.4
Unemployment Rate 89
Poverty Rate 63
Income vs. State Median 90
Child Poverty Rate 70
Disability Rate 80
Transfer Income Dependency 80
Housing Cost Burden 58.0
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 62
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 72
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 31
Homeownership Rate 34
Economic Vitality 52.5
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 46
Rent-to-Income Ratio 60
Business Formation Rate 81
House Price Change (YoY) 5
Legal Distress 45.2
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 45
Consumer Credit Distress 41.8
Debt in Collections 42
Medical Debt 31
Auto Loan Delinquency 37
Credit Card Delinquency 42
Uninsured Rate 36
Subprime Credit Population 54

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Morgan County
Morgan County, OH 51.8 Elevated —
Muskingum County, OH 62.7 Elevated +11.0
Athens County, OH 59.8 Elevated +8.1
Perry County, OH 58.8 Elevated +7.1
Washington County, OH 47.9 Normal -3.9
Noble County, OH 39.9 Normal -11.8

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Morgan County
Branch County, MI 51.8 Elevated +0.0
Dawson County, GA 51.8 Elevated +0.1
Montgomery County, IN 51.9 Elevated +0.1
Arenac County, MI 51.6 Elevated -0.1
Orleans County, NY 51.9 Elevated +0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Morgan 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 Morgan 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 Morgan County, Ohio?

    Morgan County has a County Distress Index score of 51.8 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 1,468th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 46th in Ohio out of 88 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Morgan County?

    The primary driver of distress in Morgan County is Structural Poverty, where the county scores 79.4 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Unemployment Rate, Poverty Rate, Income vs. State Median.

  • How does Morgan County compare to neighboring counties?

    Morgan County (51.8) can be compared to its 5 neighboring counties: Muskingum County, OH (62.7); Athens County, OH (59.8); Perry County, OH (58.8).

  • 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). Morgan County's score of 51.8 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Morgan 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 Morgan County?

    Morgan County, Ohio has a population of approximately 13,646 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.