Clay County, Illinois

County Distress Index: Healthy · 30.9 | 12,999 people · 85th most distressed in Illinois
American Default Research

Behind on your mortgage or facing eviction? Take a 2-minute assessment to see your options.

Clay County, IL ranks among the least distressed counties in the country at 30.9 — 2710th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Structural Poverty, where poverty rates are high, transfer income dependency is elevated, and household incomes lag well behind state and national medians. Within Illinois, it ranks 85th of 102 counties. Among its 6 neighboring counties, 4 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Clay County's primary driver is Structural Poverty at 76.0 — worse than roughly 76% of U.S. counties.

Structural Poverty Primary driver 76.0
Unemployment Rate 93
Poverty Rate 61
Income vs. State Median 87
Child Poverty Rate 57
Disability Rate 73
Transfer Income Dependency 80
Economic Vitality 42.0
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 18
Rent-to-Income Ratio 40
Business Formation Rate 93
House Price Change (YoY) 73
Legal Distress 32.3
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 32
Consumer Credit Distress 22.7
Debt in Collections 28
Medical Debt 7
Auto Loan Delinquency 19
Credit Card Delinquency 25
Uninsured Rate 25
Subprime Credit Population 28
Housing Cost Burden 15.6
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 8
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 15
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 46
Homeownership Rate 16

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Clay County
Clay County, IL 30.9 Healthy —
Marion County, IL 53.1 Elevated +22.2
Fayette County, IL 40.7 Normal +9.8
Wayne County, IL 38.4 Normal +7.5
Richland County, IL 36.5 Normal +5.7
Effingham County, IL 22.9 Healthy -8.0
Jasper County, IL 20.7 Healthy -10.1

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Clay County
York County, NE 30.9 Healthy 0.0
De Witt County, IL 30.9 Healthy +0.0
Menard County, IL 30.9 Healthy +0.0
Barron County, WI 30.8 Healthy -0.0
McLeod County, MN 30.9 Healthy +0.0

Download Data

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

Find Help in Clay County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Clay County.

C.E.F.S. CLAY COUNTY OUTREACH OFFICE
FLORA
618-662-4024 Website
Foreclosure PreventionFinancial CounselingFair HousingHome 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 Clay 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 →

Continue Reading

Frequently Asked Questions

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

    Clay County has a County Distress Index score of 30.9 out of 100, placing it in the Healthy zone. It ranks 2,710th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 85th in Illinois out of 102 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Clay County?

    The primary driver of distress in Clay County is Structural Poverty, where the county scores 76.0 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Unemployment Rate, Poverty Rate, Income vs. State Median.

  • How does Clay County compare to neighboring counties?

    Clay County (30.9) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Marion County, IL (53.1); Fayette County, IL (40.7); Wayne County, IL (38.4).

  • 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). Clay County's score of 30.9 sits in the Healthy zone (below 46).

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

    Clay 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 Clay County?

    Clay County, Illinois has a population of approximately 12,999 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.