Williams County, Ohio

County Distress Index: Normal · 49.5 | 36,591 people · 51st most distressed in Ohio
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Williams County, OH falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 49.5 — 1604th 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 51st of 88 counties. It scores higher 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. Williams County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 67.6 — above the national median.

Legal Distress Primary driver 67.6
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 68
Housing Cost Burden 60.8
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 55
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 77
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 47
Homeownership Rate 44
Structural Poverty 52.4
Unemployment Rate 74
Poverty Rate 30
Income vs. State Median 66
Child Poverty Rate 29
Disability Rate 62
Transfer Income Dependency 50
Consumer Credit Distress 42.5
Debt in Collections 41
Medical Debt 42
Auto Loan Delinquency 50
Credit Card Delinquency 55
Uninsured Rate 21
Subprime Credit Population 37
Economic Vitality 39.6
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 28
Rent-to-Income Ratio 29
Business Formation Rate 91
House Price Change (YoY) 30

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Williams County
Williams County, OH 49.5 Normal —
Hillsdale County, MI 48.3 Normal -1.3
Steuben County, IN 40.0 Normal -9.5
Defiance County, OH 39.6 Normal -9.9
DeKalb County, IN 38.4 Normal -11.1
Fulton County, OH 34.0 Healthy -15.5
Henry County, OH 32.5 Healthy -17.0

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Williams County
Clinton County, IA 49.5 Normal 0.0
Seward County, KS 49.5 Normal -0.0
Hardy County, WV 49.5 Normal -0.0
Coos County, NH 49.4 Normal -0.1
Barbour County, WV 49.6 Normal +0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Williams 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 Williams 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 Williams County, Ohio?

    Williams County has a County Distress Index score of 49.5 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 1,604th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 51st in Ohio out of 88 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Williams County?

    The primary driver of distress in Williams County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 67.6 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Williams County compare to neighboring counties?

    Williams County (49.5) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Hillsdale County, MI (48.3); Steuben County, IN (40.0); Defiance County, OH (39.6).

  • 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). Williams County's score of 49.5 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Williams 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 Williams County?

    Williams County, Ohio has a population of approximately 36,591 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.