Perry County, Ohio

County Distress Index: Elevated · 58.8 | 35,551 people · 25th most distressed in Ohio
American Default Research

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

Perry County, OH registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 58.8 — 1028th 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 25th of 88 counties. Its score is in the middle of its 6 neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Perry County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 76.0 — worse than roughly 76% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 76.0
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 76
Structural Poverty 61.9
Unemployment Rate 78
Poverty Rate 51
Income vs. State Median 60
Child Poverty Rate 52
Disability Rate 61
Transfer Income Dependency 68
Consumer Credit Distress 59.2
Debt in Collections 59
Medical Debt 57
Auto Loan Delinquency 58
Credit Card Delinquency 59
Uninsured Rate 51
Subprime Credit Population 65
Housing Cost Burden 58.9
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 47
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 76
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 69
Homeownership Rate 38
Economic Vitality 38.7
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 31
Rent-to-Income Ratio 24
Business Formation Rate 75
House Price Change (YoY) 53

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Perry County
Perry County, OH 58.8 Elevated —
Muskingum County, OH 62.7 Elevated +3.9
Hocking County, OH 60.9 Elevated +2.1
Athens County, OH 59.8 Elevated +1.0
Morgan County, OH 51.8 Elevated -7.1
Fairfield County, OH 50.1 Elevated -8.7
Licking County, OH 47.7 Normal -11.1

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Perry County
Wayne County, TN 58.9 Elevated +0.0
Cedar County, MO 58.8 Elevated -0.0
Meigs County, OH 58.8 Elevated -0.1
Hart County, KY 58.8 Elevated -0.1
Lake County, MI 58.9 Elevated +0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Perry 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 Perry 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 Perry County, Ohio?

    Perry County has a County Distress Index score of 58.8 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 1,028th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 25th in Ohio out of 88 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Perry County?

    The primary driver of distress in Perry County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 76.0 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Perry County compare to neighboring counties?

    Perry County (58.8) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Muskingum County, OH (62.7); Hocking County, OH (60.9); Athens County, OH (59.8).

  • 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). Perry County's score of 58.8 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Perry 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 Perry County?

    Perry County, Ohio has a population of approximately 35,551 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.