In Ashland County, Ohio, rent on a two-bedroom takes about one in six dollars of the typical household's income
In Ashland County, 16.5% of the typical household's income would go to rent on a two-bedroom. That is lower than in 90% of U.S. counties.
Less distressed than 66% of U.S. counties.
What drives Ashland County's score
In Ashland County, collections and bankruptcy is the highest-scoring part, at 44.9. Late payments on loans are the lowest part, at 33.3. About one in three people (32.5%, Q2 2026) has a subprime credit score, a lower share than in 79% of U.S. counties.
The County Distress Index looks at five parts of household money trouble in Ashland County: jobs, late payments on loans, income and the safety net, collections and bankruptcy, and housing costs. Each part is scored from 0 to 100, and a higher score means worse off than other counties.
Ashland County isn't among the worst-off quarter of U.S. counties on any measure.
A longer bar means more trouble. See how the county score works.
- 44.9 of 100
Collections and bankruptcy
Biggest factorCredit records, August 2025; bankruptcy filings, 2025
- People with unpaid debt sent to a collector18.6% · August 202533rd percentile
- Bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people141.8 · 202556th percentile
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- 42.8 of 100
Jobs
Unemployment through Sep 2026; adults not working, 2020–24 Census survey
- Unemployment rate, average over the latest year3.7% · Oct 2025 to Sep 202641st percentile
- Adults 25 to 54 not working19.8% · 2020 to 202444th percentile
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- 40.4 of 100
Housing costs
Renters, 2020–24 Census survey; HUD's fair market rents, fiscal year 2027
- Renters paying half their income or more in rent21.7% · 2020 to 202470th percentile
- Rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income16.5% · fiscal year 20279th percentile
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- 39.3 of 100
Income and safety net
Poverty and income, 2024; disability and insurance, 2020–24 Census survey
- People below the poverty line11.6% · 202436th percentile
- Children below the poverty line17.0% · 202449th percentile
- People with a disability14.4% · 2020 to 202434th percentile
- People without health insurance7.1% · 2020 to 202443rd percentile
- Median household income (lower income, longer bar)$73,005 · 202433rd percentile
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- 33.3 of 100
Late payments
Credit records, August 2025; credit scores, second quarter of 2026
- People with a credit card behind5.6% · August 202552nd percentile
- People with a car or retail loan behind3.6% · August 202526th percentile
- People with a subprime credit score32.5% · second quarter of 202620th percentile
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Sources: Urban Institute, Debt in America; Equifax via the St. Louis Fed; Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, Table F-5A; U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey; U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Fair Market Rents and Census income; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates. County Distress Index by American Default Research, from data through Sep 2026.
Where the money in Ashland County comes from
Benefit checks are Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid paid on people's behalf, veterans' benefits, and food and income support, so a high share usually means an older population, low pay, or both. In Ashland County, 20.3% of residents are 65 or older (Census Bureau, 2024), against 17.2% nationally that year.
Cents of every dollar of income, 2024
Ashland County
Ohio
United States
- Pay from work
- Investments and rent
- Benefit checks
In Ashland County, benefit checks' share of income has grown to about four times its 1969 level, reaching 25.8% in 2024, but pay from work still brings in more than twice as much as benefit checks
In Ashland County, Ohio, benefit checks' share of income grew to about four times its 1969 level by 2024, reaching 25.8%; pay from work is plotted alongside. Every fifth year and 2024 are shown.
- Benefit checks
- Pay from work
The share of households in Ashland County getting SNAP food aid had its largest rise, from 7.5% in 2011 to 10.5% in 2012.
The share of households in Ashland County getting SNAP food aid was at its highest on the chart in 2016 and has since fallen to 8.9%
Low on the chart: 5.5% in 2009. Households getting SNAP, every year; each bar is a five-year survey estimate ending that year, so neighboring bars share most of their data, Ashland County, Ohio.
How Ashland County has changed
Ashland County's population had its largest rise, from 47,499 in 1989 to 50,607 in 1994.
Ashland County's population rose by about a quarter from 1969 to 2024, reaching 52,420
High on the chart: 53,305 in 2009. Residents, yearly estimate, every fifth year and 2024, Ashland County, Ohio.
The jobs count covers work located in the county; the population count covers residents.
The number of jobs located in Ashland County rose 11% from 1990 to 2025, with most of the change between 1990 and 1995
High on the chart: 19,616 in 2000. Yearly average of jobs covered by unemployment insurance, every fifth year and 2025, Ashland County, Ohio.
| Measure | Then | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rateBLS LAUS | 1990 5.7% | 2025 4.7% |
| People below the poverty lineCensus SAIPE | 1989 9.0% | 2024 11.6% |
| Median household incomeCensus SAIPE | 1989 $27,147 | 2024 $73,005 |
The table uses 4.7% for 2025; the score uses 3.7% for the latest year (Oct 2025 to Sep 2026), both from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Figures are as each agency published them, not adjusted for prices.
Dated events in Ashland County's history
1977
A tornado in April 1977 did $2.5 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
1995
A thunderstorm in July 1995 killed one person. NOAA Storm Events Database
2006
A flash flood in July 2006 did $5.2 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2007
A flash flood in August 2007 did $3 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2010
The county's largest recorded population was the 2010 Census count of 53,139. The 2020 Census counted 52,447, 99% of the peak. Census Bureau
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Since 1969
12 federal disaster and emergency declarations have covered Ashland County, 3 of them for flooding. FEMA
Ashland County beside its neighbors
Of the seven counties that border Ashland County, three score higher. For the share of income from benefit checks, Ashland County ranks 3rd of the eight; Richland County is highest, at 29.8%.
| County | Score | Poverty | Benefit checks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Richland County, OH | 59 | 13.5% | 29.8% |
| Huron County, OH | 54 | 11.7% | 26.9% |
| Lorain County, OH | 45 | 10.8% | 22.2% |
| Ashland County, OH | 33 | 11.6% | 25.8% |
| Knox County, OH | 28 | 10.7% | 25.2% |
| Wayne County, OH | 23 | 11.3% | 19.7% |
| Holmes County, OH | 7 | 9.0% | 11.7% |
| Medina County, OH | 6 | 6.1% | 16.8% |
Distress score: American Default Research, County Distress Index, data through Sep 2026; each county scored against all 3,144. Poverty rate: Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates, 2024. Benefit checks: Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024. Neighbors share a border, from Census county maps.
Is Ashland County the poorest county in Ohio?
No, Ashland County's poverty rate was 11.6% in 2024, 48th highest of 88 in Ohio (U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates). By that measure the poorest county in the state is Athens County, at 25.3%. On our distress index, which counts more than poverty, Ashland County ranks 59th of 88 in the state.
If you're behind on your mortgage in Ashland County
Housing counselors approved by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development work at nonprofit agencies. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau describes free foreclosure-avoidance counseling, including help with mortgage-company conversations and available options Source CFPB.
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Legal Aid of Western Ohio (LAWO)
Legal aid
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Ohio Legal Help
Legal help website
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HUD-approved housing counselors
Our help directory lists 1,010 agencies approved for foreclosure counseling, by state.
The score, its 14 measures and their sources, in one file. Free to use with credit to American Default Research.
Download the CSV for Ashland County · Every U.S. county (CSV)
Sources and method
- American Default Research · County Distress Index Data through Sep 2026, built from Urban Institute, Debt in America; Equifax via the St. Louis Fed; U.S. Courts, Table F-5A; Census Bureau, American Community Survey; HUD Fair Market Rents and Census income; Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates. The County Distress Index is American Default Research's own calculation; the Urban Institute does not produce or endorse it. Our methodology
- Urban Institute · Debt in America Breno Braga, Signe-Mary McKernan, Samantha Atherton, and Kassandra Martinchek, "Debt in America," last updated November 20, 2025, https://datacatalog.urban.org/dataset/debt-america-2025. Licensed under ODC-By 1.0.
- Rent on a two-bedroom and household income The rent share compares HUD fair market rent for fiscal year 2027 with Census Bureau median household income for 2024. The page calls this the typical household's income.
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Economic Accounts (CAINC4) · income shares Where the money in Ashland County comes from, 2024.
- History The agencies named in each row and the linked records above.