Ross County, Ohio

County Distress Index: Serious · 71.3 | 76,501 people · 2nd most distressed in Ohio
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Ross County, OH shows significant household financial distress with a score of 71.3 — 340th 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 2nd of 88 counties. It scores higher than all 7 of its neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Ross County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 87.2 — worse than roughly 87% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 87.3
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 87
Housing Cost Burden 73.7
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 83
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 78
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 37
Homeownership Rate 68
Consumer Credit Distress 73.6
Debt in Collections 79
Medical Debt 73
Auto Loan Delinquency 80
Credit Card Delinquency 86
Uninsured Rate 32
Subprime Credit Population 69
Structural Poverty 72.3
Unemployment Rate 88
Poverty Rate 70
Income vs. State Median 64
Child Poverty Rate 73
Disability Rate 74
Transfer Income Dependency 71
Economic Vitality 39.9
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 19
Rent-to-Income Ratio 46
Business Formation Rate 89
House Price Change (YoY) 32

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Ross County
Ross County, OH 71.3 Serious —
Jackson County, OH 69.0 Serious -2.4
Pike County, OH 68.7 Serious -2.7
Fayette County, OH 61.0 Elevated -10.4
Hocking County, OH 60.9 Elevated -10.4
Highland County, OH 55.5 Elevated -15.8
Pickaway County, OH 55.2 Elevated -16.1
Vinton County, OH 53.7 Elevated -17.6

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Ross County
Kent County, DE 71.4 Serious +0.0
Wayne County, NC 71.4 Serious +0.0
Lenoir County, NC 71.4 Serious +0.1
Lamar County, TX 71.1 Serious -0.2
Columbia County, FL 71.0 Serious -0.3

Download Data

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

Find Help in Ross 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 Ross 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 Ross County, Ohio?

    Ross County has a County Distress Index score of 71.3 out of 100, placing it in the Serious zone. It ranks 340th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 2nd in Ohio out of 88 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Ross County?

    The primary driver of distress in Ross County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 87.2 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Ross County compare to neighboring counties?

    Ross County (71.3) can be compared to its 7 neighboring counties: Jackson County, OH (69.0); Pike County, OH (68.7); 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 Serious 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). Ross County's score of 71.3 sits in the Serious zone (71–86).

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

    Ross 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 Ross County?

    Ross County, Ohio has a population of approximately 76,501 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.