Muskingum County, Ohio

County Distress Index: Elevated · 62.7 | 86,305 people · 16th most distressed in Ohio
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Muskingum County, OH registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 62.7 — 787th 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 16th of 88 counties. It scores higher than all 6 of its neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Muskingum County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 86.5 — worse than roughly 87% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 86.5
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 86
Housing Cost Burden 74.2
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 82
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 72
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 55
Homeownership Rate 75
Structural Poverty 67.3
Unemployment Rate 67
Poverty Rate 75
Income vs. State Median 73
Child Poverty Rate 78
Disability Rate 49
Transfer Income Dependency 63
Consumer Credit Distress 57.7
Debt in Collections 63
Medical Debt 50
Auto Loan Delinquency 55
Credit Card Delinquency 68
Uninsured Rate 28
Subprime Credit Population 63
Economic Vitality 35.1
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 24
Rent-to-Income Ratio 38
Business Formation Rate 69
House Price Change (YoY) 16

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Muskingum County
Muskingum County, OH 62.7 Elevated —
Guernsey County, OH 60.7 Elevated -2.0
Perry County, OH 58.8 Elevated -3.9
Coshocton County, OH 58.4 Elevated -4.3
Morgan County, OH 51.8 Elevated -11.0
Licking County, OH 47.7 Normal -15.0
Noble County, OH 39.9 Normal -22.8

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Muskingum County
Hall County, GA 62.8 Elevated +0.0
Cherokee County, TX 62.8 Elevated +0.0
Walker County, AL 62.6 Elevated -0.1
Craven County, NC 62.6 Elevated -0.2
Midland County, TX 62.9 Elevated +0.2

Download Data

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

Find Help in Muskingum 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 Muskingum 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 Muskingum County, Ohio?

    Muskingum County has a County Distress Index score of 62.7 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 787th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 16th in Ohio out of 88 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Muskingum County?

    The primary driver of distress in Muskingum County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 86.5 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Muskingum County compare to neighboring counties?

    Muskingum County (62.7) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Guernsey County, OH (60.7); Perry County, OH (58.8); Coshocton County, OH (58.4).

  • 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). Muskingum County's score of 62.7 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Muskingum 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 Muskingum County?

    Muskingum County, Ohio has a population of approximately 86,305 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.