Lake County, Ohio

County Distress Index: Normal · 42.1 | 231,640 people · 63rd most distressed in Ohio
American Default Research

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Lake County, OH falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 42.1 — 2206th 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 63rd of 88 counties. Among its 3 neighboring counties, 2 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five domains of financial distress. Lake County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 59.9 — above the national median.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 59.9
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 72
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 66
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 67
Homeownership Rate 46
Rent-to-Income Ratio 48
Debt & Delinquency 49.9
Debt in Collections 37
Medical Debt 50
Student Loan Delinquency 42
Auto Loan Delinquency 45
Credit Card Delinquency 39
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 86
Employment & Wages 48.6
Unemployment Rate 38
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 58
Business Formation Rate 50
Income & Poverty 27.2
Poverty Rate 21
Income vs. State Median 25
Child Poverty Rate 36
Community Vulnerability 24.8
Uninsured Rate 16
Disability Rate 33

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

Neighbors and Peers

How Lake County compares to its 3 neighboring counties and population peers.

Neighboring Counties

County Score Zone vs. Lake County
Lake County, OH 42.1 Normal —
Ashtabula County, OH 68.6 Serious +26.5
Cuyahoga County, OH 53.7 Elevated +11.6
Geauga County, OH 25.3 Healthy -16.8

Population Peers

County Score Zone vs. Lake County
Autauga County, AL 42.1 Normal +0.0
Newport County, RI 42.0 Normal -0.1
Waupaca County, WI 42.0 Normal -0.1
Clermont County, OH 41.9 Normal -0.1
Effingham County, GA 41.9 Normal -0.2

Download Data

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

Find Help in Lake County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Lake County.

FAIR HOUSING RESOURCE CENTER
Painesville
440-392-0147 Website
Foreclosure PreventionMortgage HelpFinancial CounselingFinancial Counseling

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 Lake 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 Lake County, Ohio?

    Lake County has a County Distress Index score of 42.1 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 2,206th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 63rd in Ohio out of 88 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Lake County?

    The primary driver of distress in Lake County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 59.9 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Lake County compare to neighboring counties?

    Lake County (42.1) can be compared to its 3 neighboring counties: Ashtabula County, OH (68.6); Cuyahoga County, OH (53.7); Geauga County, OH (25.3).

  • 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 Lake County?

    Lake County, Ohio has a population of approximately 231,640 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.