Ottawa County, Ohio

County Distress Index: Normal · 35.8 | 39,803 people · 75th most distressed in Ohio
American Default Research

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

Ottawa County, OH falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 35.8 — 2435th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Legal Distress, where bankruptcy filings are moderately elevated. Within Ohio, it ranks 75th of 88 counties. It scores lower than all 4 of its neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Ottawa County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 48.2 — above the national median.

Legal Distress Primary driver 48.2
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 48
Housing Cost Burden 42.9
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 50
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 47
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 57
Homeownership Rate 6
Economic Vitality 40.1
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 49
Rent-to-Income Ratio 14
Business Formation Rate 71
House Price Change (YoY) 13
Structural Poverty 37.2
Unemployment Rate 95
Poverty Rate 12
Income vs. State Median 20
Child Poverty Rate 19
Disability Rate 49
Transfer Income Dependency 42
Consumer Credit Distress 29.2
Debt in Collections 26
Medical Debt 51
Auto Loan Delinquency 31
Credit Card Delinquency 36
Uninsured Rate 11
Subprime Credit Population 19

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Ottawa County
Ottawa County, OH 35.8 Normal —
Lucas County, OH 66.8 Serious +31.1
Erie County, OH 52.5 Elevated +16.8
Sandusky County, OH 46.7 Normal +10.9
Wood County, OH 41.0 Normal +5.2

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Ottawa County
Waushara County, WI 35.8 Normal +0.0
Faribault County, MN 35.9 Normal +0.1
Richland County, MT 35.6 Normal -0.1
Payette County, ID 35.6 Normal -0.1
Juniata County, PA 35.6 Normal -0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Ottawa 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 Ottawa 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 Ottawa County, Ohio?

    Ottawa County has a County Distress Index score of 35.8 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 2,435th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 75th in Ohio out of 88 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Ottawa County?

    The primary driver of distress in Ottawa County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 48.2 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Ottawa County compare to neighboring counties?

    Ottawa County (35.8) can be compared to its 4 neighboring counties: Lucas County, OH (66.8); Erie County, OH (52.5); Sandusky County, OH (46.7).

  • 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 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). Ottawa County's score of 35.8 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Ottawa 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 Ottawa County?

    Ottawa County, Ohio has a population of approximately 39,803 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.