Pickaway County, Ohio

County Distress Index: Elevated · 55.2 | 61,086 people · 37th most distressed in Ohio
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Pickaway County, OH registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 55.2 — 1256th 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 37th of 88 counties. Among its 6 neighboring counties, 4 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Pickaway County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 77.0 — worse than roughly 77% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 77.0
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 77
Economic Vitality 68.9
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 80
Rent-to-Income Ratio 62
Business Formation Rate 68
House Price Change (YoY) 32
Consumer Credit Distress 56.5
Debt in Collections 58
Medical Debt 65
Auto Loan Delinquency 50
Credit Card Delinquency 65
Uninsured Rate 25
Subprime Credit Population 60
Housing Cost Burden 52.6
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 40
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 55
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 74
Homeownership Rate 61
Structural Poverty 33.9
Unemployment Rate 55
Poverty Rate 34
Income vs. State Median 20
Child Poverty Rate 33
Disability Rate 43
Transfer Income Dependency 30

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Pickaway County
Pickaway County, OH 55.2 Elevated —
Ross County, OH 71.3 Serious +16.1
Franklin County, OH 62.4 Elevated +7.2
Fayette County, OH 61.0 Elevated +5.8
Hocking County, OH 60.9 Elevated +5.7
Fairfield County, OH 50.1 Elevated -5.1
Madison County, OH 46.9 Normal -8.4

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Pickaway County
Washington County, OK 55.2 Elevated +0.0
Coweta County, GA 55.3 Elevated +0.1
Huron County, OH 55.3 Elevated +0.1
Jackson County, AL 55.1 Elevated -0.1
Madison County, MS 55.3 Elevated +0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Pickaway 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 Pickaway 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 Pickaway County, Ohio?

    Pickaway County has a County Distress Index score of 55.2 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 1,256th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 37th in Ohio out of 88 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Pickaway County?

    The primary driver of distress in Pickaway County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 77.0 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Pickaway County compare to neighboring counties?

    Pickaway County (55.2) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Ross County, OH (71.3); Franklin County, OH (62.4); Fayette County, OH (61.0).

  • 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). Pickaway County's score of 55.2 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Pickaway 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 Pickaway County?

    Pickaway County, Ohio has a population of approximately 61,086 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.