Sandusky County, Ohio

County Distress Index: Normal · 46.9 | 58,709 people · 53rd most distressed in Ohio
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Sandusky County, OH falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 46.9 — 1833rd nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Employment & Wages, where employment and wage conditions show moderate stress. Within Ohio, it ranks 53rd of 88 counties. Among its 5 neighboring counties, 3 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five domains of financial distress. Sandusky County's primary driver is Employment & Wages at 63.4 — above the national median.

Employment & Wages Primary driver 63.4
Unemployment Rate 83
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 23
Business Formation Rate 84
Debt & Delinquency 52.9
Debt in Collections 50
Medical Debt 69
Student Loan Delinquency 64
Auto Loan Delinquency 7
Credit Card Delinquency 53
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 74
Housing Cost Burden 42.3
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 45
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 58
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 38
Homeownership Rate 51
Rent-to-Income Ratio 20
Community Vulnerability 41.3
Uninsured Rate 26
Disability Rate 57
Income & Poverty 34.9
Poverty Rate 23
Income vs. State Median 52
Child Poverty Rate 29

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

Neighbors and Peers

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

Neighboring Counties

County Score Zone vs. Sandusky County
Sandusky County, OH 46.9 Normal —
Huron County, OH 54.5 Elevated +7.5
Erie County, OH 52.0 Elevated +5.0
Seneca County, OH 50.1 Elevated +3.2
Ottawa County, OH 38.2 Normal -8.7
Wood County, OH 35.5 Normal -11.4

Population Peers

County Score Zone vs. Sandusky County
Morgan County, AL 46.9 Normal -0.0
Logan County, OK 46.9 Normal -0.1
Robertson County, TN 47.0 Normal +0.1
San Benito County, CA 47.0 Normal +0.1
Northeastern Connecticut Planning Region, CT 47.0 Normal +0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Sandusky County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Sandusky County.

Great Lakes Community Action Partnership (formerly WSOS Community Action Commision, Inc.)
Fremont
800-775-9767 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 Sandusky 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 Sandusky County, Ohio?

    Sandusky County has a County Distress Index score of 46.9 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 1,833rd nationally out of 3,144 counties and 53rd in Ohio out of 88 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Sandusky County?

    The primary driver of distress in Sandusky County is Employment & Wages, where the county scores 63.4 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Unemployment Rate, Wage-to-Rent Ratio, Business Formation Rate.

  • How does Sandusky County compare to neighboring counties?

    Sandusky County (46.9) can be compared to its 5 neighboring counties: Huron County, OH (54.5); Erie County, OH (52.0); Seneca County, OH (50.1).

  • 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 Sandusky County?

    Sandusky County, Ohio has a population of approximately 58,709 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.