Wood County, Ohio

County Distress Index: Normal · 41.0 | 132,650 people · 70th most distressed in Ohio
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Wood County, OH falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 41.0 — 2128th 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 70th of 88 counties. Among its 7 neighboring counties, 4 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Wood County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 71.0 — above the national median.

Legal Distress Primary driver 71.0
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 71
Housing Cost Burden 63.3
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 55
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 67
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 47
Homeownership Rate 85
Economic Vitality 34.1
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 29
Rent-to-Income Ratio 15
Business Formation Rate 69
House Price Change (YoY) 49
Consumer Credit Distress 32.4
Debt in Collections 31
Medical Debt 53
Auto Loan Delinquency 35
Credit Card Delinquency 27
Uninsured Rate 9
Subprime Credit Population 32
Structural Poverty 22.7
Unemployment Rate 55
Poverty Rate 19
Income vs. State Median 24
Child Poverty Rate 8
Disability Rate 22
Transfer Income Dependency 15

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Wood County
Wood County, OH 41.0 Normal —
Lucas County, OH 66.8 Serious +25.8
Seneca County, OH 51.6 Elevated +10.6
Sandusky County, OH 46.7 Normal +5.7
Hancock County, OH 44.7 Normal +3.7
Ottawa County, OH 35.8 Normal -5.2
Henry County, OH 32.5 Healthy -8.5
Putnam County, OH 25.6 Healthy -15.4

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Wood County
Iron County, UT 41.0 Normal 0.0
Madison County, NY 41.0 Normal -0.0
Eaton County, MI 40.8 Normal -0.2
Napa County, CA 40.8 Normal -0.2
St. Mary's County, MD 40.8 Normal -0.2

Download Data

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

Find Help in Wood 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 Wood 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 Wood County, Ohio?

    Wood County has a County Distress Index score of 41.0 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 2,128th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 70th in Ohio out of 88 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Wood County?

    The primary driver of distress in Wood County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 71.0 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Wood County compare to neighboring counties?

    Wood County (41.0) can be compared to its 7 neighboring counties: Lucas County, OH (66.8); Seneca County, OH (51.6); Sandusky County, OH (46.7).

  • 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). Wood County's score of 41.0 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Wood 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 Wood County?

    Wood County, Ohio has a population of approximately 132,650 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.