Licking County, Ohio

County Distress Index: Normal · 43.5 | 183,201 people · 60th most distressed in Ohio
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Licking County, OH falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 43.5 — 2121st 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 60th of 88 counties. Among its 7 neighboring counties, 5 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five domains of financial distress. Licking County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 63.0 — above the national median.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 63.0
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 51
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 67
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 81
Homeownership Rate 54
Rent-to-Income Ratio 62
Employment & Wages 56.3
Unemployment Rate 45
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 78
Business Formation Rate 46
Debt & Delinquency 44.8
Debt in Collections 46
Medical Debt 36
Student Loan Delinquency 32
Auto Loan Delinquency 40
Credit Card Delinquency 48
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 66
Community Vulnerability 34.8
Uninsured Rate 22
Disability Rate 47
Income & Poverty 18.6
Poverty Rate 18
Income vs. State Median 20
Child Poverty Rate 18

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

Neighbors and Peers

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

Neighboring Counties

County Score Zone vs. Licking County
Licking County, OH 43.5 Normal —
Coshocton County, OH 61.1 Elevated +17.6
Muskingum County, OH 59.9 Elevated +16.4
Perry County, OH 57.3 Elevated +13.8
Franklin County, OH 51.8 Elevated +8.3
Knox County, OH 46.0 Normal +2.5
Fairfield County, OH 41.9 Normal -1.6
Delaware County, OH 18.8 Healthy -24.7

Population Peers

County Score Zone vs. Licking County
Somerset County, PA 43.6 Normal +0.1
Napa County, CA 43.7 Normal +0.2
Rock County, WI 43.7 Normal +0.2
Rensselaer County, NY 43.8 Normal +0.3
Montgomery County, VA 43.8 Normal +0.3

Download Data

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

Find Help in Licking 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 Licking 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 Licking County, Ohio?

    Licking County has a County Distress Index score of 43.5 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 2,121st nationally out of 3,144 counties and 60th in Ohio out of 88 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Licking County?

    The primary driver of distress in Licking County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 63.0 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Licking County compare to neighboring counties?

    Licking County (43.5) can be compared to its 7 neighboring counties: Coshocton County, OH (61.1); Muskingum County, OH (59.9); Perry County, OH (57.3).

  • 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 Licking County?

    Licking County, Ohio has a population of approximately 183,201 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.