De Witt County, Illinois

County Distress Index: Healthy · 30.9 | 15,365 people · 84th most distressed in Illinois
American Default Research

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

De Witt County, IL ranks among the least distressed counties in the country at 30.9 — 2709th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Legal Distress, where bankruptcy filings are moderately elevated. Within Illinois, it ranks 84th 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. De Witt County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 45.1 — above the national median.

Legal Distress Primary driver 45.1
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 45
Structural Poverty 35.4
Unemployment Rate 72
Poverty Rate 27
Income vs. State Median 24
Child Poverty Rate 40
Disability Rate 27
Transfer Income Dependency 34
Consumer Credit Distress 30.1
Debt in Collections 30
Medical Debt 7
Auto Loan Delinquency 47
Credit Card Delinquency 21
Uninsured Rate 6
Subprime Credit Population 47
Economic Vitality 28.8
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 5
Rent-to-Income Ratio 9
Business Formation Rate 95
House Price Change (YoY) 82
Housing Cost Burden 25.8
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 27
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 10
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 58
Homeownership Rate 37

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. De Witt County
De Witt County, IL 30.9 Healthy —
Macon County, IL 50.8 Elevated +19.9
Logan County, IL 49.0 Normal +18.1
McLean County, IL 36.9 Normal +6.0
Piatt County, IL 26.3 Healthy -4.6

Population Peers

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

Download Data

Export all distress indicators for De Witt County as a CSV file.

Find Help in De Witt 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 De Witt 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 De Witt County, Illinois?

    De Witt County has a County Distress Index score of 30.9 out of 100, placing it in the Healthy zone. It ranks 2,709th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 84th in Illinois out of 102 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in De Witt County?

    The primary driver of distress in De Witt County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 45.1 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does De Witt County compare to neighboring counties?

    De Witt County (30.9) can be compared to its 4 neighboring counties: Macon County, IL (50.8); Logan County, IL (49.0); McLean County, IL (36.9).

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

  • What data sources power De Witt County's CDI score?

    De Witt 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 De Witt County?

    De Witt County, Illinois has a population of approximately 15,365 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.