Crawford County, Illinois

County Distress Index: Healthy · 30.6 | 18,300 people · 86th most distressed in Illinois
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Crawford County, IL ranks among the least distressed counties in the country at 30.6 — 2725th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Legal Distress, where bankruptcy filings are moderately elevated. Within Illinois, it ranks 86th of 102 counties. Among its 6 neighboring counties, 5 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Crawford County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 57.0 — above the national median.

Legal Distress Primary driver 57.0
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 57
Structural Poverty 52.2
Unemployment Rate 78
Poverty Rate 56
Income vs. State Median 57
Child Poverty Rate 45
Disability Rate 49
Transfer Income Dependency 37
Consumer Credit Distress 29.3
Debt in Collections 40
Medical Debt 7
Auto Loan Delinquency 12
Credit Card Delinquency 48
Uninsured Rate 20
Subprime Credit Population 35
Economic Vitality 24.0
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 5
Rent-to-Income Ratio 13
Business Formation Rate 95
House Price Change (YoY) 17
Housing Cost Burden 14.4
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 10
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 13
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 29
Homeownership Rate 17

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Crawford County
Crawford County, IL 30.6 Healthy —
Knox County, IN 53.8 Elevated +23.2
Sullivan County, IN 53.4 Elevated +22.8
Lawrence County, IL 44.2 Normal +13.6
Clark County, IL 37.9 Normal +7.3
Richland County, IL 36.5 Normal +5.9
Jasper County, IL 20.7 Healthy -9.9

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Crawford County
Franklin County, IN 30.7 Healthy +0.0
Emery County, UT 30.7 Healthy +0.0
Pend Oreille County, WA 30.7 Healthy +0.0
Becker County, MN 30.7 Healthy +0.1
Poquoson city, VA 30.6 Healthy -0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Crawford County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Crawford County.

ERBA CRAWFORD COUNTY OUTREACH OFFICE
ROBINSON
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 Crawford 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 Crawford County, Illinois?

    Crawford County has a County Distress Index score of 30.6 out of 100, placing it in the Healthy zone. It ranks 2,725th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 86th in Illinois out of 102 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Crawford County?

    The primary driver of distress in Crawford County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 57.0 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Crawford County compare to neighboring counties?

    Crawford County (30.6) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Knox County, IN (53.8); Sullivan County, IN (53.4); Lawrence County, IL (44.2).

  • 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). Crawford County's score of 30.6 sits in the Healthy zone (below 46).

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

    Crawford 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 Crawford County?

    Crawford County, Illinois has a population of approximately 18,300 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.