Coles County, Illinois

County Distress Index: Elevated · 51.9 | 46,060 people · 20th most distressed in Illinois
American Default Research

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Coles County, IL registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 51.9 — 1460th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Legal Distress, where bankruptcy filing rates are well above the national average. Within Illinois, it ranks 20th of 102 counties. It scores higher than all 6 of its neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Coles County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 73.5 — above the national median.

Legal Distress Primary driver 73.5
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 74
Housing Cost Burden 68.0
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 64
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 68
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 45
Homeownership Rate 93
Structural Poverty 61.9
Unemployment Rate 72
Poverty Rate 75
Income vs. State Median 79
Child Poverty Rate 54
Disability Rate 54
Transfer Income Dependency 41
Consumer Credit Distress 40.5
Debt in Collections 47
Medical Debt 7
Auto Loan Delinquency 31
Credit Card Delinquency 53
Uninsured Rate 32
Subprime Credit Population 57
Economic Vitality 40.1
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 19
Rent-to-Income Ratio 40
Business Formation Rate 76
House Price Change (YoY) 77

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Coles County
Coles County, IL 51.9 Elevated —
Edgar County, IL 40.7 Normal -11.2
Clark County, IL 37.9 Normal -14.0
Douglas County, IL 28.8 Healthy -23.2
Shelby County, IL 26.2 Healthy -25.7
Moultrie County, IL 25.2 Healthy -26.7
Cumberland County, IL 23.3 Healthy -28.6

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Coles County
Greene County, IN 52.0 Elevated +0.0
San Juan County, UT 51.9 Elevated -0.0
Randolph County, IN 52.0 Elevated +0.0
Clinton County, OH 52.0 Elevated +0.1
Orleans County, NY 51.9 Elevated -0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Coles County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Coles County.

ERBA COLES COUNTY OUTREACH OFFICE
Charleston
217-331-7031-229 Website
Foreclosure PreventionFinancial CounselingFinancial CounselingHome Improvement/Rehab
ERBA COLES COUNTY OUTREACH OFFICE - WEST
Mattoon
217-331-7031-229 Website
Foreclosure PreventionMortgage HelpFinancial CounselingFinancial Counseling

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 Coles 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 Coles County, Illinois?

    Coles County has a County Distress Index score of 51.9 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 1,460th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 20th in Illinois out of 102 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Coles County?

    The primary driver of distress in Coles County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 73.5 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Coles County compare to neighboring counties?

    Coles County (51.9) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Edgar County, IL (40.7); Clark County, IL (37.9); Douglas County, IL (28.8).

  • 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 Elevated 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). Coles County's score of 51.9 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Coles 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 Coles County?

    Coles County, Illinois has a population of approximately 46,060 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.