Preble County, Ohio

County Distress Index: Normal · 44.9 | 40,556 people · 62nd most distressed in Ohio
American Default Research

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Preble County, OH falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 44.9 — 1899th 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 62nd of 88 counties. Among its 5 neighboring counties, 3 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Preble County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 85.5 — worse than roughly 86% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 85.5
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 86
Consumer Credit Distress 50.9
Debt in Collections 50
Medical Debt 57
Auto Loan Delinquency 65
Credit Card Delinquency 45
Uninsured Rate 20
Subprime Credit Population 53
Structural Poverty 36.9
Unemployment Rate 49
Poverty Rate 24
Income vs. State Median 20
Child Poverty Rate 33
Disability Rate 46
Transfer Income Dependency 52
Housing Cost Burden 31.0
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 32
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 21
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 74
Homeownership Rate 22
Economic Vitality 27.1
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 22
Rent-to-Income Ratio 3
Business Formation Rate 80
House Price Change (YoY) 22

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Preble County
Preble County, OH 44.9 Normal —
Montgomery County, OH 66.5 Serious +21.6
Wayne County, IN 66.3 Serious +21.4
Butler County, OH 53.1 Elevated +8.1
Darke County, OH 38.3 Normal -6.6
Union County, IN 36.6 Normal -8.3

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Preble County
Venango County, PA 44.9 Normal -0.0
Cheatham County, TN 45.0 Normal +0.0
Webster County, MO 44.9 Normal -0.1
Texas County, OK 45.0 Normal +0.1
Llano County, TX 44.8 Normal -0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Preble 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 Preble 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 Preble County, Ohio?

    Preble County has a County Distress Index score of 44.9 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 1,899th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 62nd in Ohio out of 88 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Preble County?

    The primary driver of distress in Preble County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 85.5 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Preble County compare to neighboring counties?

    Preble County (44.9) can be compared to its 5 neighboring counties: Montgomery County, OH (66.5); Wayne County, IN (66.3); Butler County, OH (53.1).

  • 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). Preble County's score of 44.9 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Preble 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 Preble County?

    Preble County, Ohio has a population of approximately 40,556 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.