In Stark County, Ohio, rent on a two-bedroom takes about one in six dollars of the typical household's income
In Stark County, 18.1% of the typical household's income would go to rent on a two-bedroom. That is lower than in 77% of U.S. counties.
Less distressed than 53% of U.S. counties.
What drives Stark County's score
In Stark County, collections and bankruptcy is the highest-scoring part, at 73.1. Housing costs are the lowest part, at 38.1.
The County Distress Index looks at five parts of household money trouble in Stark County: jobs, late payments on loans, income and the safety net, collections and bankruptcy, and housing costs. Each part is scored from 0 to 100, and a higher score means worse off than other counties.
Even so, Stark County is worse off than most counties on bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people (291.6, 2025).
A longer bar means more trouble. See how the county score works.
- 73.1 of 100
Collections and bankruptcy
Biggest factorCredit records, August 2025; bankruptcy filings, 2025
- People with unpaid debt sent to a collector24.7% · August 202556th percentile
- Bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people291.6 · 202590th percentile
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- 45.8 of 100
Late payments
Credit records, August 2025; credit scores, second quarter of 2026
- People with a credit card behind5.3% · August 202546th percentile
- People with a car or retail loan behind4.8% · August 202544th percentile
- People with a subprime credit score39.0% · second quarter of 202645th percentile
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- 42.6 of 100
Jobs
Unemployment through Sep 2026; adults not working, 2020–24 Census survey
- Unemployment rate, average over the latest year4.0% · Oct 2025 to Sep 202651st percentile
- Adults 25 to 54 not working18.1% · 2020 to 202433rd percentile
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- 39.8 of 100
Income and safety net
Poverty and income, 2024; disability and insurance, 2020–24 Census survey
- People below the poverty line12.4% · 202443rd percentile
- Children below the poverty line18.1% · 202455th percentile
- People with a disability14.2% · 2020 to 202432nd percentile
- People without health insurance5.5% · 2020 to 202425th percentile
- Median household income (lower income, longer bar)$69,455 · 202442nd percentile
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- 38.1 of 100
Housing costs
Renters, 2020–24 Census survey; HUD's fair market rents, fiscal year 2027
- Renters paying half their income or more in rent18.7% · 2020 to 202453rd percentile
- Rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income18.1% · fiscal year 202722nd percentile
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Sources: Urban Institute, Debt in America; Equifax via the St. Louis Fed; Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, Table F-5A; U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey; U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Fair Market Rents and Census income; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates. County Distress Index by American Default Research, from data through Sep 2026.
Where the money in Stark County comes from
Benefit checks are Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid paid on people's behalf, veterans' benefits, and food and income support, so a high share usually means an older population, low pay, or both. In Stark County, 20.5% of residents are 65 or older (Census Bureau, 2024), against 17.2% nationally that year.
Cents of every dollar of income, 2024
Stark County
Ohio
United States
- Pay from work
- Investments and rent
- Benefit checks
In Stark County, benefit checks' share of income has more than tripled since 1969, reaching 24.6% in 2024, but pay from work still brings in more than twice as much as benefit checks
In Stark County, Ohio, benefit checks' share of income more than tripled from 1969 to 2024, reaching 24.6%; pay from work is plotted alongside. Every fifth year and 2024 are shown.
- Benefit checks
- Pay from work
The share of households in Stark County getting SNAP food aid had its largest rise, from 10.6% in 2010 to 12.2% in 2011.
The share of households in Stark County getting SNAP food aid was at its highest on the chart in 2014 and has since fallen to 12.7%
Low on the chart: 9.8% in 2009. Households getting SNAP, every year; each bar is a five-year survey estimate ending that year, so neighboring bars share most of their data, Stark County, Ohio.
How Stark County has changed
Stark County's population made its largest gain on the way to its 1974 high, from 369,989 in 1969 to 382,330 in 1974.
Stark County's population was about the same in 2024 as in 1969
High on the chart: 382,330 in 1974. Residents, yearly estimate, every fifth year and 2024, Stark County, Ohio.
The number of jobs located in Stark County fell most sharply on the way to its 2010 low, from 166,073 in 2005 to 148,817 in 2010.
The number of jobs located in Stark County was at its highest on the chart in 2000 and is down 10% since
High on the chart: 175,415 in 2000. Yearly average of jobs covered by unemployment insurance, every fifth year and 2025, Stark County, Ohio.
| Measure | Then | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rateBLS LAUS | 1990 6.4% | 2025 4.9% |
| People below the poverty lineCensus SAIPE | 1989 10.9% | 2024 12.4% |
| Median household incomeCensus SAIPE | 1989 $27,669 | 2024 $69,455 |
The table uses 4.9% for 2025; the score uses 4.0% for the latest year (Oct 2025 to Sep 2026), both from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Figures are as each agency published them, not adjusted for prices.
Dated events in Stark County's history
1980
The county's largest recorded population was the 1980 Census count of 378,823. The 2020 Census counted 374,853, 99% of the peak. Census Bureau
2002
A tornado in April 2002 did $45.5 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2003
A flash flood in July 2003 did $52 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2008
Hail in July 2008 did $30 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2008
Hail in July 2008 did $25.5 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
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Since 1969
12 federal disaster and emergency declarations have covered Stark County, 6 of them for flooding. FEMA
Stark County beside its neighbors
Of the eight counties that border Stark County, three score higher. For the share of income from benefit checks, Stark County ranks 4th of the nine; Columbiana County is highest, at 32.4%.
| County | Score | Poverty | Benefit checks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mahoning County, OH | 81 | 19.3% | 29.1% |
| Columbiana County, OH | 69 | 14.7% | 32.4% |
| Summit County, OH | 58 | 13.3% | 20.3% |
| Stark County, OH | 46 | 12.4% | 24.6% |
| Tuscarawas County, OH | 43 | 11.3% | 22.3% |
| Carroll County, OH | 42 | 11.6% | 26.7% |
| Portage County, OH | 40 | 11.7% | 21.9% |
| Wayne County, OH | 23 | 11.3% | 19.7% |
| Holmes County, OH | 7 | 9.0% | 11.7% |
Distress score: American Default Research, County Distress Index, data through Sep 2026; each county scored against all 3,144. Poverty rate: Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates, 2024. Benefit checks: Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024. Neighbors share a border, from Census county maps.
Is Stark County the poorest county in Ohio?
No, Stark County's poverty rate was 12.4% in 2024, 43rd highest of 88 in Ohio (U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates). By that measure the poorest county in the state is Athens County, at 25.3%. On our distress index, which counts more than poverty, Stark County ranks 48th of 88 in the state.
If you're behind on your mortgage in Stark County
Housing counselors approved by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development work at nonprofit agencies. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau describes free foreclosure-avoidance counseling, including help with mortgage-company conversations and available options Source CFPB.
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Apprisen - Canton
HUD-approved housing counselor
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Community Legal Aid (Akron/Canton)
Legal aid
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Ohio Legal Help
Legal help website
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HUD-approved housing counselors
Our help directory lists 1,010 agencies approved for foreclosure counseling, by state.
The score, its 14 measures and their sources, in one file. Free to use with credit to American Default Research.
Sources and method
- American Default Research · County Distress Index Data through Sep 2026, built from Urban Institute, Debt in America; Equifax via the St. Louis Fed; U.S. Courts, Table F-5A; Census Bureau, American Community Survey; HUD Fair Market Rents and Census income; Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates. The County Distress Index is American Default Research's own calculation; the Urban Institute does not produce or endorse it. Our methodology
- Urban Institute · Debt in America Breno Braga, Signe-Mary McKernan, Samantha Atherton, and Kassandra Martinchek, "Debt in America," last updated November 20, 2025, https://datacatalog.urban.org/dataset/debt-america-2025. Licensed under ODC-By 1.0.
- Rent on a two-bedroom and household income The rent share compares HUD fair market rent for fiscal year 2027 with Census Bureau median household income for 2024. The page calls this the typical household's income.
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Economic Accounts (CAINC4) · income shares Where the money in Stark County comes from, 2024.
- History The agencies named in each row and the linked records above.