Van Wert County, Ohio

County Distress Index: Normal · 44.1 | 28,704 people · 64th most distressed in Ohio
American Default Research

Behind on your mortgage or facing eviction? Take a 2-minute assessment to see your options.

Van Wert County, OH falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 44.1 — 1948th 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 64th of 88 counties. Among its 7 neighboring counties, 5 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Van Wert County's primary driver is Consumer Credit Distress at 50.8 — above the national median.

Consumer Credit Distress Primary driver 50.8
Debt in Collections 48
Medical Debt 67
Auto Loan Delinquency 71
Credit Card Delinquency 55
Uninsured Rate 4
Subprime Credit Population 40
Legal Distress 47.8
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 48
Economic Vitality 43.1
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 37
Rent-to-Income Ratio 31
Business Formation Rate 84
House Price Change (YoY) 31
Structural Poverty 42.3
Unemployment Rate 45
Poverty Rate 28
Income vs. State Median 68
Child Poverty Rate 32
Disability Rate 32
Transfer Income Dependency 38
Housing Cost Burden 30.0
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 31
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 41
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 9
Homeownership Rate 16

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Van Wert County
Van Wert County, OH 44.1 Normal —
Allen County, OH 57.3 Elevated +13.2
Allen County, IN 53.7 Elevated +9.6
Paulding County, OH 43.6 Normal -0.5
Adams County, IN 34.8 Healthy -9.3
Auglaize County, OH 33.0 Healthy -11.1
Putnam County, OH 25.6 Healthy -18.6
Mercer County, OH 24.0 Healthy -20.1

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Van Wert County
Box Butte County, NE 44.1 Normal -0.0
Tioga County, NY 44.2 Normal +0.1
Lawrence County, IL 44.2 Normal +0.1
Stephenson County, IL 44.0 Normal -0.1
Union County, IL 44.0 Normal -0.1

Download Data

Export all distress indicators for Van Wert County as a CSV file.

Find Help in Van Wert 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 Van Wert 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 →

Continue Reading

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the distress score for Van Wert County, Ohio?

    Van Wert County has a County Distress Index score of 44.1 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 1,948th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 64th in Ohio out of 88 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Van Wert County?

    The primary driver of distress in Van Wert County is Consumer Credit Distress, where the county scores 50.8 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Debt in Collections, Medical Debt, Auto Loan Delinquency.

  • How does Van Wert County compare to neighboring counties?

    Van Wert County (44.1) can be compared to its 7 neighboring counties: Allen County, OH (57.3); Allen County, IN (53.7); Paulding County, OH (43.6).

  • 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). Van Wert County's score of 44.1 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

  • What data sources power Van Wert County's CDI score?

    Van Wert 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 Van Wert County?

    Van Wert County, Ohio has a population of approximately 28,704 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.