Bond County, Illinois

County Distress Index: Healthy · 34.3 | 16,450 people · 68th most distressed in Illinois
American Default Research

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Bond County, IL ranks among the least distressed counties in the country at 34.3 — 2509th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Structural Poverty, where income and poverty levels indicate moderate economic strain. Within Illinois, it ranks 68th of 102 counties. Among its 4 neighboring counties, 3 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Bond County's primary driver is Structural Poverty at 57.1 — above the national median.

Structural Poverty Primary driver 57.1
Unemployment Rate 78
Poverty Rate 50
Income vs. State Median 48
Child Poverty Rate 34
Disability Rate 71
Transfer Income Dependency 64
Housing Cost Burden 45.0
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 23
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 63
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 49
Homeownership Rate 53
Legal Distress 40.8
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 41
Economic Vitality 25.6
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 17
Rent-to-Income Ratio 9
Business Formation Rate 83
House Price Change (YoY) 8
Consumer Credit Distress 23.5
Debt in Collections 45
Medical Debt 7
Auto Loan Delinquency 17
Credit Card Delinquency 27
Uninsured Rate 5
Subprime Credit Population 22

Scores are percentile-based: 50 = national median, higher = more distressed.

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Bond County
Bond County, IL 34.3 Healthy —
Madison County, IL 47.0 Normal +12.6
Fayette County, IL 40.7 Normal +6.3
Montgomery County, IL 39.5 Normal +5.2
Clinton County, IL 26.9 Healthy -7.5

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Bond County
Oceana County, MI 34.3 Healthy -0.1
Garrett County, MD 34.5 Healthy +0.2
Greene County, IL 34.6 Healthy +0.3
Morton County, ND 34.6 Healthy +0.3
Stark County, ND 34.6 Healthy +0.3

Download Data

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

Find Help in Bond County

Find an Attorney

Illinois State Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service offers a lawyer referral service for bankruptcy, foreclosure defense, and consumer rights.

Illinois State Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service 1-800-922-8757

Free Legal Aid

Legal aid organizations serving Bond County residents at no cost.

Illinois Legal Aid Online (ILAO)
Legal Aid Chicago (formerly LAF) 312-341-1070
Land of Lincoln Legal Aid 217-525-7151
Prairie State Legal Services 1-800-531-7057
Illinois State Bar Association Lawyer Referral 1-800-922-8757

Self-Help Resources

Illinois Legal Aid Online — Foreclosure Comprehensive self-help guides for Illinois foreclosure
IHDA 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 Illinois →

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the distress score for Bond County, Illinois?

    Bond County has a County Distress Index score of 34.3 out of 100, placing it in the Healthy zone. It ranks 2,509th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 68th in Illinois out of 102 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Bond County?

    The primary driver of distress in Bond County is Structural Poverty, where the county scores 57.1 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Unemployment Rate, Poverty Rate, Income vs. State Median.

  • How does Bond County compare to neighboring counties?

    Bond County (34.3) can be compared to its 4 neighboring counties: Madison County, IL (47.0); Fayette County, IL (40.7); Montgomery County, IL (39.5).

  • How is the County Distress Index calculated?

    The County Distress Index uses PCA-weighted percentile scoring across five statistically derived factors: Consumer Credit Distress (47.5%), Housing Cost Burden (22.3%), Structural Poverty (13.6%), Economic Vitality (9.2%), and Legal Distress (7.4%). 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.

  • How often is the CDI updated?

    Annually, aligned to Census American Community Survey and Urban Institute Debt in America release windows — the slowest-moving source inputs. Between annual refreshes, faster-cadence indicators (BLS unemployment, QCEW wages) may drive light mid-year updates if a specific component moves meaningfully. Current data compiled April 14, 2026; next full refresh early 2027.

  • What does the Healthy zone mean?

    The CDI divides counties into five zones: Healthy (below 46), Normal (46–55), Elevated (55–71), Serious (71–86), and Crisis (86 and above). Bond County's score of 34.3 sits in the Healthy zone (below 46).

  • What data sources power Bond County's CDI score?

    Bond County's CDI score draws on Urban Institute Debt in America (Equifax credit-bureau panel), U.S. Census Bureau (American Community Survey 5-year, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates), Bureau of Labor Statistics (LAUS, QCEW), U.S. Courts Administrative Office (F-5A bankruptcy filings), and HUD Fair Market Rents. Every number on this page traces to one of these public sources.

  • What is the population of Bond County?

    Bond County, Illinois has a population of approximately 16,450 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.