Wayne County, Ohio

County Distress Index: Healthy · 34.9 | 116,510 people · 76th most distressed in Ohio
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Wayne County, OH ranks among the least distressed counties in the country at 34.9 — 2480th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Legal Distress, where bankruptcy filings are moderately elevated. Within Ohio, it ranks 76th of 88 counties. Among its 5 neighboring counties, 3 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Wayne County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 56.5 — above the national median.

Legal Distress Primary driver 56.5
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 56
Consumer Credit Distress 35.8
Debt in Collections 28
Medical Debt 54
Auto Loan Delinquency 30
Credit Card Delinquency 21
Uninsured Rate 85
Subprime Credit Population 29
Housing Cost Burden 34.7
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 28
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 32
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 57
Homeownership Rate 41
Economic Vitality 28.8
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 18
Rent-to-Income Ratio 19
Business Formation Rate 68
House Price Change (YoY) 39
Structural Poverty 24.5
Unemployment Rate 41
Poverty Rate 14
Income vs. State Median 34
Child Poverty Rate 17
Disability Rate 22
Transfer Income Dependency 19

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Wayne County
Wayne County, OH 34.9 Healthy —
Summit County, OH 56.9 Elevated +22.0
Stark County, OH 52.8 Elevated +17.9
Ashland County, OH 45.0 Normal +10.1
Medina County, OH 30.7 Healthy -4.2
Holmes County, OH 19.5 Healthy -15.4

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Wayne County
Story County, IA 34.9 Healthy -0.0
Crow Wing County, MN 34.9 Healthy +0.0
Rice County, MN 34.7 Healthy -0.2
Cache County, UT 35.1 Normal +0.2
Grand Traverse County, MI 34.6 Healthy -0.3

Download Data

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

Find Help in Wayne 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 Wayne 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 Wayne County, Ohio?

    Wayne County has a County Distress Index score of 34.9 out of 100, placing it in the Healthy zone. It ranks 2,480th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 76th in Ohio out of 88 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Wayne County?

    The primary driver of distress in Wayne County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 56.5 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Wayne County compare to neighboring counties?

    Wayne County (34.9) can be compared to its 5 neighboring counties: Summit County, OH (56.9); Stark County, OH (52.8); Ashland County, OH (45.0).

  • 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). Wayne County's score of 34.9 sits in the Healthy zone (below 46).

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

    Wayne 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 Wayne County?

    Wayne County, Ohio has a population of approximately 116,510 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.