Shelby County, Ohio

County Distress Index: Normal · 42.2 | 47,765 people · 68th most distressed in Ohio
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Shelby County, OH falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 42.2 — 2054th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Consumer Credit Distress, where debt and delinquency levels sit above the national average. Within Ohio, it ranks 68th 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. Shelby County's primary driver is Consumer Credit Distress at 51.4 — above the national median.

Consumer Credit Distress Primary driver 51.4
Debt in Collections 54
Medical Debt 89
Auto Loan Delinquency 60
Credit Card Delinquency 40
Uninsured Rate 14
Subprime Credit Population 41
Legal Distress 39.4
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 39
Housing Cost Burden 35.2
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 41
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 21
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 39
Homeownership Rate 54
Structural Poverty 34.0
Unemployment Rate 45
Poverty Rate 24
Income vs. State Median 42
Child Poverty Rate 35
Disability Rate 34
Transfer Income Dependency 26
Economic Vitality 26.1
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 8
Rent-to-Income Ratio 23
Business Formation Rate 83
House Price Change (YoY) 17

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Shelby County
Shelby County, OH 42.2 Normal —
Miami County, OH 49.7 Normal +7.5
Champaign County, OH 47.6 Normal +5.4
Logan County, OH 45.2 Normal +3.0
Darke County, OH 38.3 Normal -3.9
Auglaize County, OH 33.0 Healthy -9.2
Mercer County, OH 24.0 Healthy -18.2

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Shelby County
Moffat County, CO 42.2 Normal -0.0
Polk County, NC 42.2 Normal -0.0
Gasconade County, MO 42.1 Normal -0.1
Mille Lacs County, MN 42.1 Normal -0.1
Williams County, ND 42.1 Normal -0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Shelby 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 Shelby 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 Shelby County, Ohio?

    Shelby County has a County Distress Index score of 42.2 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 2,054th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 68th in Ohio out of 88 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Shelby County?

    The primary driver of distress in Shelby County is Consumer Credit Distress, where the county scores 51.4 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Debt in Collections, Medical Debt, Auto Loan Delinquency.

  • How does Shelby County compare to neighboring counties?

    Shelby County (42.2) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Miami County, OH (49.7); Champaign County, OH (47.6); Logan County, OH (45.2).

  • 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). Shelby County's score of 42.2 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Shelby 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 Shelby County?

    Shelby County, Ohio has a population of approximately 47,765 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.