Warren County, Ohio

County Distress Index: Healthy · 27.7 | 252,148 people · 82nd most distressed in Ohio
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Warren County, OH ranks among the least distressed counties in the country at 27.7 — 2863rd nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Legal Distress, where bankruptcy filings are moderately elevated. Within Ohio, it ranks 82nd 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. Warren County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 49.9 — above the national median.

Legal Distress Primary driver 49.9
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 50
Housing Cost Burden 45.1
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 41
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 54
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 65
Homeownership Rate 21
Economic Vitality 24.3
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 34
Rent-to-Income Ratio 3
Business Formation Rate 21
House Price Change (YoY) 46
Consumer Credit Distress 22.6
Debt in Collections 20
Medical Debt 44
Auto Loan Delinquency 34
Credit Card Delinquency 13
Uninsured Rate 5
Subprime Credit Population 17
Structural Poverty 7.7
Unemployment Rate 41
Poverty Rate 1
Income vs. State Median 1
Child Poverty Rate 1
Disability Rate 7
Transfer Income Dependency 4

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Warren County
Warren County, OH 27.7 Healthy —
Montgomery County, OH 66.5 Serious +38.8
Hamilton County, OH 60.1 Elevated +32.4
Butler County, OH 53.1 Elevated +25.3
Clinton County, OH 52.0 Elevated +24.3
Clermont County, OH 47.2 Normal +19.4
Greene County, OH 39.2 Normal +11.5

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Warren County
Morris County, NJ 27.4 Healthy -0.3
Chester County, PA 28.3 Healthy +0.6
Johnson County, KS 27.1 Healthy -0.7
Douglas County, CO 28.6 Healthy +0.8
San Mateo County, CA 29.7 Healthy +2.0

Download Data

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

Find Help in Warren 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 Warren 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 Warren County, Ohio?

    Warren County has a County Distress Index score of 27.7 out of 100, placing it in the Healthy zone. It ranks 2,863rd nationally out of 3,144 counties and 82nd in Ohio out of 88 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Warren County?

    The primary driver of distress in Warren County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 49.9 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Warren County compare to neighboring counties?

    Warren County (27.7) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Montgomery County, OH (66.5); Hamilton County, OH (60.1); Butler County, OH (53.1).

  • 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 Healthy 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). Warren County's score of 27.7 sits in the Healthy zone (below 46).

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

    Warren 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 Warren County?

    Warren County, Ohio has a population of approximately 252,148 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a large county.