Lorain County, Ohio

County Distress Index: Normal · 47.5 | 317,910 people · 52nd most distressed in Ohio
American Default Research

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Lorain County, OH falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 47.5 — 1797th 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 52nd of 88 counties. Among its 5 neighboring counties, 4 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five domains of financial distress. Lorain County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 63.8 — above the national median.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 63.8
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 72
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 84
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 67
Homeownership Rate 54
Rent-to-Income Ratio 43
Employment & Wages 57.6
Unemployment Rate 49
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 68
Business Formation Rate 55
Debt & Delinquency 57.6
Debt in Collections 52
Medical Debt 65
Student Loan Delinquency 53
Auto Loan Delinquency 43
Credit Card Delinquency 52
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 83
Community Vulnerability 30.1
Uninsured Rate 21
Disability Rate 39
Income & Poverty 28.3
Poverty Rate 29
Income vs. State Median 21
Child Poverty Rate 35

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

Neighbors and Peers

How Lorain County compares to its 5 neighboring counties and population peers.

Neighboring Counties

County Score Zone vs. Lorain County
Lorain County, OH 47.5 Normal —
Huron County, OH 54.5 Elevated +7.0
Cuyahoga County, OH 53.7 Elevated +6.3
Erie County, OH 52.0 Elevated +4.5
Ashland County, OH 47.5 Normal +0.1
Medina County, OH 26.9 Healthy -20.6

Population Peers

County Score Zone vs. Lorain County
Washington County, AR 47.5 Normal +0.0
District of Columbia, DC 47.6 Normal +0.1
Spokane County, WA 47.3 Normal -0.2
Collier County, FL 47.7 Normal +0.2
Jefferson County, KY 47.7 Normal +0.3

Download Data

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

Find Help in Lorain County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Lorain County.

EL CENTRO DE SERVICIOS SOCIALES (OH)
Lorain
440-277-8235 Website
Foreclosure PreventionHome Improvement/RehabPost-PurchasePre-Purchase
EL CENTRO DE SERVICIOS SOCIALES, INC
Lorain
440-277-8235 Website
Financial CounselingFinancial CounselingPre-Lease/Pre-PurchasePre-Purchase
LORAIN COUNTY URBAN LEAGUE
Elyria
440-323-3364
Foreclosure PreventionFinancial CounselingPre-Purchase
LORAIN METROPOLITAN HOUSING AUTHORITY
Lorain
440-288-1600 Website
Foreclosure PreventionMortgage HelpFinancial CounselingFair Housing

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 Lorain 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 Lorain County, Ohio?

    Lorain County has a County Distress Index score of 47.5 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 1,797th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 52nd in Ohio out of 88 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Lorain County?

    The primary driver of distress in Lorain County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 63.8 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Lorain County compare to neighboring counties?

    Lorain County (47.5) can be compared to its 5 neighboring counties: Huron County, OH (54.5); Cuyahoga County, OH (53.7); Erie County, OH (52.0).

  • 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 Lorain County?

    Lorain County, Ohio has a population of approximately 317,910 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a large county.