Delaware County, Ohio

County Distress Index: Healthy · 18.8 | 231,636 people · 88th most distressed in Ohio
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Delaware County, OH ranks among the least distressed counties in the country at 18.8 — 3125th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Housing Cost Burden, where housing remains relatively affordable compared to local incomes. Within Ohio, it ranks 88th of 88 counties. It scores lower than all 6 of its neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five domains of financial distress. Delaware County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 39.1 — above the national median.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 39.1
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 47
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 38
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 82
Homeownership Rate 28
Rent-to-Income Ratio 0
Employment & Wages 30.2
Unemployment Rate 34
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 38
Business Formation Rate 18
Debt & Delinquency 17.2
Debt in Collections 4
Medical Debt 35
Student Loan Delinquency 6
Auto Loan Delinquency 18
Credit Card Delinquency 5
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 34
Community Vulnerability 6.8
Uninsured Rate 12
Disability Rate 1
Income & Poverty 0.7
Poverty Rate 1
Income vs. State Median 0
Child Poverty Rate 1

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

Neighbors and Peers

How Delaware County compares to its 6 neighboring counties and population peers.

Neighboring Counties

County Score Zone vs. Delaware County
Delaware County, OH 18.8 Healthy —
Marion County, OH 61.6 Elevated +42.8
Franklin County, OH 51.8 Elevated +33.0
Morrow County, OH 51.1 Elevated +32.3
Knox County, OH 46.0 Normal +27.1
Licking County, OH 43.5 Normal +24.7
Union County, OH 21.2 Healthy +2.4

Population Peers

County Score Zone vs. Delaware County
Dallas County, IA 19.1 Healthy +0.3
Warrick County, IN 20.9 Healthy +2.0
Boone County, IN 21.0 Healthy +2.2
Union County, OH 21.2 Healthy +2.4
Ozaukee County, WI 21.8 Healthy +3.0

Download Data

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

Find Help in Delaware 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 Delaware 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 Delaware County, Ohio?

    Delaware County has a County Distress Index score of 18.8 out of 100, placing it in the Healthy zone. It ranks 3,125th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 88th in Ohio out of 88 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Delaware County?

    The primary driver of distress in Delaware County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 39.1 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Delaware County compare to neighboring counties?

    Delaware County (18.8) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Marion County, OH (61.6); Franklin County, OH (51.8); Morrow County, OH (51.1).

  • 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 Delaware County?

    Delaware County, Ohio has a population of approximately 231,636 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.