Morrow County, Ohio

County Distress Index: Normal · 48.7 | 35,595 people · 52nd most distressed in Ohio
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Morrow County, OH falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 48.7 — 1662nd nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Economic Vitality, where wages are low relative to housing costs, business formation lags, and the local economy lacks dynamism. Within Ohio, it ranks 52nd 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. Morrow County's primary driver is Economic Vitality at 77.4 — worse than roughly 77% of U.S. counties.

Economic Vitality Primary driver 77.4
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 95
Rent-to-Income Ratio 77
Business Formation Rate 58
House Price Change (YoY) 25
Legal Distress 56.4
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 56
Consumer Credit Distress 47.7
Debt in Collections 51
Medical Debt 53
Auto Loan Delinquency 41
Credit Card Delinquency 45
Uninsured Rate 57
Subprime Credit Population 45
Housing Cost Burden 43.7
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 35
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 54
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 85
Homeownership Rate 11
Structural Poverty 36.8
Unemployment Rate 55
Poverty Rate 27
Income vs. State Median 33
Child Poverty Rate 25
Disability Rate 49
Transfer Income Dependency 36

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Morrow County
Morrow County, OH 48.7 Normal —
Marion County, OH 68.2 Serious +19.5
Richland County, OH 58.3 Elevated +9.5
Crawford County, OH 55.9 Elevated +7.2
Knox County, OH 42.4 Normal -6.4
Delaware County, OH 21.0 Healthy -27.8

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Morrow County
Dakota County, NE 48.8 Normal +0.0
Madison County, AR 48.6 Normal -0.1
Clatsop County, OR 48.8 Normal +0.1
Alleghany County, NC 48.6 Normal -0.1
Morgan County, CO 48.9 Normal +0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Morrow 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 Morrow 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.

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the distress score for Morrow County, Ohio?

    Morrow County has a County Distress Index score of 48.7 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 1,662nd nationally out of 3,144 counties and 52nd in Ohio out of 88 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Morrow County?

    The primary driver of distress in Morrow County is Economic Vitality, where the county scores 77.4 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Wage-to-Rent Ratio, Rent-to-Income Ratio, Business Formation Rate.

  • How does Morrow County compare to neighboring counties?

    Morrow County (48.7) can be compared to its 5 neighboring counties: Marion County, OH (68.2); Richland County, OH (58.3); Crawford County, OH (55.9).

  • 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 Normal 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). Morrow County's score of 48.7 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Morrow 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 Morrow County?

    Morrow County, Ohio has a population of approximately 35,595 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.