Noble County, Ohio

County Distress Index: Normal · 39.9 | 14,311 people · 71st most distressed in Ohio
American Default Research

Behind on your mortgage or facing eviction? Take a 2-minute assessment to see your options.

Noble County, OH falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 39.9 — 2198th 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 71st of 88 counties. It scores lower 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. Noble County's primary driver is Structural Poverty at 66.3 — above the national median.

Structural Poverty Primary driver 66.3
Unemployment Rate 93
Poverty Rate 61
Income vs. State Median 64
Child Poverty Rate 36
Disability Rate 81
Transfer Income Dependency 67
Consumer Credit Distress 49.1
Debt in Collections 41
Medical Debt 43
Auto Loan Delinquency 69
Credit Card Delinquency 46
Uninsured Rate 42
Subprime Credit Population 50
Economic Vitality 41.2
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 29
Rent-to-Income Ratio 29
Business Formation Rate 95
House Price Change (YoY) 36
Legal Distress 19.3
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 19
Housing Cost Burden 10.4
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 5
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 5
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 46
Homeownership Rate 11

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Noble County
Noble County, OH 39.9 Normal —
Muskingum County, OH 62.7 Elevated +22.8
Guernsey County, OH 60.7 Elevated +20.8
Belmont County, OH 56.3 Elevated +16.4
Morgan County, OH 51.8 Elevated +11.8
Washington County, OH 47.9 Normal +8.0
Monroe County, OH 41.3 Normal +1.3

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Noble County
Douglas County, NV 39.9 Normal +0.0
Steuben County, IN 40.0 Normal +0.1
Fulton County, IL 40.0 Normal +0.1
Randolph County, IL 40.0 Normal +0.1
Davie County, NC 40.0 Normal +0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Noble 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 Noble 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 →

Continue Reading

Frequently Asked Questions

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

    Noble County has a County Distress Index score of 39.9 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 2,198th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 71st in Ohio out of 88 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Noble County?

    The primary driver of distress in Noble County is Structural Poverty, where the county scores 66.3 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Unemployment Rate, Poverty Rate, Income vs. State Median.

  • How does Noble County compare to neighboring counties?

    Noble County (39.9) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Muskingum County, OH (62.7); Guernsey County, OH (60.7); Belmont County, OH (56.3).

  • 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). Noble County's score of 39.9 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Noble 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 Noble County?

    Noble County, Ohio has a population of approximately 14,311 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.