Summit County, Ohio

County Distress Index: Elevated · 56.9 | 535,733 people · 31st most distressed in Ohio
American Default Research

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Summit County, OH registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 56.9 — 1151st 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 31st of 88 counties. Among its 6 neighboring counties, 5 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Summit County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 89.7 — worse than roughly 90% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 89.7
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 90
Housing Cost Burden 72.6
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 72
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 77
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 51
Homeownership Rate 79
Consumer Credit Distress 51.7
Debt in Collections 53
Medical Debt 45
Auto Loan Delinquency 67
Credit Card Delinquency 51
Uninsured Rate 25
Subprime Credit Population 53
Economic Vitality 44.3
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 43
Rent-to-Income Ratio 57
Business Formation Rate 26
House Price Change (YoY) 49
Structural Poverty 39.9
Unemployment Rate 67
Poverty Rate 45
Income vs. State Median 34
Child Poverty Rate 60
Disability Rate 29
Transfer Income Dependency 22

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Summit County
Summit County, OH 56.9 Elevated —
Cuyahoga County, OH 63.7 Elevated +6.8
Portage County, OH 54.2 Elevated -2.7
Stark County, OH 52.8 Elevated -4.1
Wayne County, OH 34.9 Healthy -22.0
Medina County, OH 30.7 Healthy -26.2
Geauga County, OH 22.4 Healthy -34.4

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Summit County
Ingham County, MI 56.9 Elevated -0.0
Solano County, CA 57.1 Elevated +0.3
Dauphin County, PA 57.1 Elevated +0.3
York County, SC 56.5 Elevated -0.4
Chesapeake city, VA 56.5 Elevated -0.4

Download Data

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

Find Help in Summit County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Summit County.

ASIAN AKRON OFFICE 2
Akron
330-535-3263 Website
Foreclosure PreventionFinancial CounselingFair HousingHome Improvement/Rehab
ASIAN SERVICES IN ACTION, INC. (ASIA)
AKRON
330-535-3263 Website
Financial CounselingFair HousingHome Improvement/RehabPost-Purchase
EAST AKRON NEIGHBORHOOD DEVELOPMENT CORP.
Akron
330-724-0244 Website
Foreclosure PreventionFinancial CounselingFinancial CounselingPost-Purchase
FAIR HOUSING CONTACT SERVICE
Akron
330-376-6191 Website
Foreclosure PreventionFair HousingPre-PurchaseRental Help
MUSTARD SEED DEVELOPMENT CENTER
Akron
330-631-0350 Website
Foreclosure PreventionMortgage HelpFinancial CounselingFinancial Counseling

See all counselors in Ohio →

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 Summit 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 Summit County, Ohio?

    Summit County has a County Distress Index score of 56.9 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 1,151st nationally out of 3,144 counties and 31st in Ohio out of 88 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Summit County?

    The primary driver of distress in Summit County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 89.7 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Summit County compare to neighboring counties?

    Summit County (56.9) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Cuyahoga County, OH (63.7); Portage County, OH (54.2); Stark County, OH (52.8).

  • 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). Summit County's score of 56.9 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Summit 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 Summit County?

    Summit County, Ohio has a population of approximately 535,733 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a large county.