Butler County, Ohio

County Distress Index: Normal · 43.9 | 393,043 people · 58th most distressed in Ohio
American Default Research

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Butler County, OH falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 43.9 — 2089th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Housing Cost Burden, where housing costs consume a moderate share of household income. Within Ohio, it ranks 58th of 88 counties. Among its 7 neighboring counties, 5 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five domains of financial distress. Butler County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 63.3 — above the national median.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 63.3
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 71
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 76
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 57
Homeownership Rate 71
Rent-to-Income Ratio 42
Debt & Delinquency 55.7
Debt in Collections 57
Medical Debt 65
Student Loan Delinquency 52
Auto Loan Delinquency 50
Credit Card Delinquency 49
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 61
Employment & Wages 51.0
Unemployment Rate 58
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 53
Business Formation Rate 42
Income & Poverty 25.9
Poverty Rate 37
Income vs. State Median 15
Child Poverty Rate 26
Community Vulnerability 23.5
Uninsured Rate 32
Disability Rate 15

Scores are percentile-based: 50 = national median, higher = more distressed. The median line is shown on each bar.

Neighbors and Peers

How Butler County compares to its 7 neighboring counties and population peers.

Neighboring Counties

County Score Zone vs. Butler County
Butler County, OH 43.9 Normal —
Montgomery County, OH 59.9 Elevated +16.0
Hamilton County, OH 48.3 Normal +4.4
Preble County, OH 40.2 Normal -3.7
Union County, IN 38.0 Normal -5.9
Dearborn County, IN 35.3 Normal -8.5
Franklin County, IN 32.2 Healthy -11.7
Warren County, OH 21.2 Healthy -22.6

Population Peers

County Score Zone vs. Butler County
Kalamazoo County, MI 43.8 Normal -0.1
Macomb County, MI 43.9 Normal +0.1
Allen County, IN 43.8 Normal -0.1
Madison County, IL 44.2 Normal +0.3
Middlesex County, NJ 43.5 Normal -0.4

Download Data

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

Find Help in Butler County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Butler County.

NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSING SERVICES OF HAMILTON, INC.
Hamilton
513-737-9301 Website
Foreclosure PreventionFinancial CounselingHome Improvement/RehabPre-Purchase
OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY EXTENSION - BUTLER COUNTY
HAMILTON
513-785-6653 Website
Financial CounselingFinancial CounselingPre-PurchaseHomebuyer Education

See all counselors in Ohio →

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 Butler 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 Butler County, Ohio?

    Butler County has a County Distress Index score of 43.9 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 2,089th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 58th in Ohio out of 88 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Butler County?

    The primary driver of distress in Butler County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 63.3 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Butler County compare to neighboring counties?

    Butler County (43.9) can be compared to its 7 neighboring counties: Montgomery County, OH (59.9); Hamilton County, OH (48.3); Preble County, OH (40.2).

  • How is the County Distress Index calculated?

    The County Distress Index uses percentile-rank averaging across five domains: Debt & Delinquency, Income & Poverty, Housing Cost Burden, Employment & Wages, and Community Vulnerability. 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.

  • What is the population of Butler County?

    Butler County, Ohio has a population of approximately 393,043 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a large county.