DeKalb County, Illinois

County Distress Index: Elevated · 55.8 | 100,288 people · 14th most distressed in Illinois
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DeKalb County, IL registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 55.8 — 1222nd nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Housing Cost Burden, where a large share of households spend more than 30% of income on housing. Within Illinois, it ranks 14th of 102 counties. Among its 8 neighboring counties, 7 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. DeKalb County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 96.3 — worse than roughly 96% of U.S. counties.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 96.3
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 97
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 97
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 99
Homeownership Rate 92
Economic Vitality 68.8
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 76
Rent-to-Income Ratio 72
Business Formation Rate 70
House Price Change (YoY) 22
Legal Distress 59.4
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 59
Consumer Credit Distress 39.7
Debt in Collections 38
Medical Debt 7
Auto Loan Delinquency 51
Credit Card Delinquency 58
Uninsured Rate 15
Subprime Credit Population 47
Structural Poverty 34.8
Unemployment Rate 86
Poverty Rate 41
Income vs. State Median 37
Child Poverty Rate 25
Disability Rate 10
Transfer Income Dependency 23

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. DeKalb County
DeKalb County, IL 55.8 Elevated —
Winnebago County, IL 60.4 Elevated +4.6
Kane County, IL 44.5 Normal -11.3
Boone County, IL 43.9 Normal -11.9
Kendall County, IL 41.9 Normal -13.9
LaSalle County, IL 39.5 Normal -16.3
Lee County, IL 37.8 Normal -18.0
McHenry County, IL 37.1 Normal -18.6
Ogle County, IL 32.7 Healthy -23.1

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. DeKalb County
Tippecanoe County, IN 55.8 Elevated -0.0
Elmore County, AL 55.8 Elevated +0.0
Greene County, TN 55.8 Elevated +0.1
Coos County, OR 55.7 Elevated -0.1
Linn County, OR 55.9 Elevated +0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in DeKalb 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 DeKalb 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 DeKalb County, Illinois?

    DeKalb County has a County Distress Index score of 55.8 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 1,222nd nationally out of 3,144 counties and 14th in Illinois out of 102 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in DeKalb County?

    The primary driver of distress in DeKalb County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 96.3 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does DeKalb County compare to neighboring counties?

    DeKalb County (55.8) can be compared to its 8 neighboring counties: Winnebago County, IL (60.4); Kane County, IL (44.5); Boone County, IL (43.9).

  • 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 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). DeKalb County's score of 55.8 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    DeKalb 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 DeKalb County?

    DeKalb County, Illinois has a population of approximately 100,288 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.