Vinton County, Ohio

County Distress Index: Elevated · 53.7 | 12,474 people · 41st most distressed in Ohio
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Vinton County, OH registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 53.7 — 1355th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Structural Poverty, where poverty rates are high, transfer income dependency is elevated, and household incomes lag well behind state and national medians. Within Ohio, it ranks 41st of 88 counties. It scores lower than all 6 of its neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Vinton County's primary driver is Structural Poverty at 87.4 — worse than roughly 87% of U.S. counties.

Structural Poverty Primary driver 87.4
Unemployment Rate 93
Poverty Rate 81
Income vs. State Median 89
Child Poverty Rate 85
Disability Rate 90
Transfer Income Dependency 87
Economic Vitality 60.6
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 64
Rent-to-Income Ratio 59
Business Formation Rate 84
House Price Change (YoY) 5
Consumer Credit Distress 55.9
Debt in Collections 77
Medical Debt 46
Auto Loan Delinquency 13
Credit Card Delinquency 65
Uninsured Rate 41
Subprime Credit Population 75
Legal Distress 42.2
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 42
Housing Cost Burden 29.6
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 14
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 38
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 30
Homeownership Rate 46

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Vinton County
Vinton County, OH 53.7 Elevated —
Ross County, OH 71.3 Serious +17.6
Jackson County, OH 69.0 Serious +15.2
Hocking County, OH 60.9 Elevated +7.2
Athens County, OH 59.8 Elevated +6.1
Meigs County, OH 58.8 Elevated +5.0
Gallia County, OH 57.8 Elevated +4.0

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Vinton County
Newton County, IN 53.8 Elevated +0.0
Upshur County, WV 53.7 Elevated -0.0
Dade County, GA 53.8 Elevated +0.0
Prowers County, CO 53.7 Elevated -0.0
Union County, KY 53.8 Elevated +0.0

Download Data

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

Find Help in Vinton 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 Vinton 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 Vinton County, Ohio?

    Vinton County has a County Distress Index score of 53.7 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 1,355th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 41st in Ohio out of 88 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Vinton County?

    The primary driver of distress in Vinton County is Structural Poverty, where the county scores 87.4 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Unemployment Rate, Poverty Rate, Income vs. State Median.

  • How does Vinton County compare to neighboring counties?

    Vinton County (53.7) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Ross County, OH (71.3); Jackson County, OH (69.0); Hocking County, OH (60.9).

  • 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). Vinton County's score of 53.7 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Vinton 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 Vinton County?

    Vinton County, Ohio has a population of approximately 12,474 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.