Clark County, Illinois

County Distress Index: Normal · 37.9 | 15,088 people · 55th most distressed in Illinois
American Default Research

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Clark County, IL falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 37.9 — 2319th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Housing Cost Burden, where housing costs consume a moderate share of household income. Within Illinois, it ranks 55th of 102 counties. Among its 7 neighboring counties, 4 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Clark County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 60.2 — above the national median.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 60.2
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 83
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 67
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 31
Homeownership Rate 12
Economic Vitality 52.9
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 62
Rent-to-Income Ratio 20
Business Formation Rate 77
House Price Change (YoY) 58
Structural Poverty 50.2
Unemployment Rate 93
Poverty Rate 38
Income vs. State Median 46
Child Poverty Rate 40
Disability Rate 28
Transfer Income Dependency 60
Legal Distress 49.8
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 50
Consumer Credit Distress 19.1
Debt in Collections 29
Medical Debt 7
Auto Loan Delinquency 10
Credit Card Delinquency 18
Uninsured Rate 16
Subprime Credit Population 27

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Clark County
Clark County, IL 37.9 Normal —
Vigo County, IN 70.3 Serious +32.4
Sullivan County, IN 53.4 Elevated +15.5
Coles County, IL 51.9 Elevated +14.0
Edgar County, IL 40.7 Normal +2.8
Crawford County, IL 30.6 Healthy -7.3
Cumberland County, IL 23.3 Healthy -14.6
Jasper County, IL 20.7 Healthy -17.2

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Clark County
North Slope Borough, AK 37.9 Normal 0.0
Sanpete County, UT 37.9 Normal -0.0
Daviess County, IN 37.9 Normal +0.0
Lake County, MN 37.9 Normal -0.0
Crawford County, IA 38.0 Normal +0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Clark County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Clark County.

ERBA CLARK COUNTY OUTREACH OFFICE
MARTINSVILLE
217-331-7031-229 Website
Foreclosure PreventionFinancial CounselingFinancial CounselingHome Improvement/Rehab

See all counselors in Illinois →

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 Clark 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 Clark County, Illinois?

    Clark County has a County Distress Index score of 37.9 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 2,319th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 55th in Illinois out of 102 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Clark County?

    The primary driver of distress in Clark County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 60.2 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Clark County compare to neighboring counties?

    Clark County (37.9) can be compared to its 7 neighboring counties: Vigo County, IN (70.3); Sullivan County, IN (53.4); Coles County, IL (51.9).

  • 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 Normal 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). Clark County's score of 37.9 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Clark 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 Clark County?

    Clark County, Illinois has a population of approximately 15,088 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.