DuPage County, Illinois

County Distress Index: Healthy · 31.5 | 921,213 people · 79th most distressed in Illinois
American Default Research

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DuPage County, IL ranks among the least distressed counties in the country at 31.5 — 2676th 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 79th of 102 counties. It scores lower than all 4 of its neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. DuPage County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 67.6 — above the national median.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 67.6
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 68
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 65
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 93
Homeownership Rate 57
Legal Distress 61.0
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 61
Economic Vitality 45.0
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 64
Rent-to-Income Ratio 39
Business Formation Rate 15
House Price Change (YoY) 23
Consumer Credit Distress 14.3
Debt in Collections 6
Medical Debt 7
Auto Loan Delinquency 28
Credit Card Delinquency 13
Uninsured Rate 21
Subprime Credit Population 14
Structural Poverty 7.5
Unemployment Rate 49
Poverty Rate 3
Income vs. State Median 1
Child Poverty Rate 1
Disability Rate 1
Transfer Income Dependency 1

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. DuPage County
DuPage County, IL 31.5 Healthy —
Cook County, IL 57.7 Elevated +26.1
Will County, IL 44.7 Normal +13.1
Kane County, IL 44.5 Normal +13.0
Kendall County, IL 41.9 Normal +10.3

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. DuPage County
Washington County, MN 31.7 Healthy +0.2
Davis County, UT 32.2 Healthy +0.7
Rockingham County, NH 30.7 Healthy -0.9
Montgomery County, PA 32.5 Healthy +1.0
Cumberland County, ME 32.6 Healthy +1.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in DuPage County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near DuPage County.

DUPAGE HOMEOWNERSHIP CENTER, INC. DBA H.O.M.E. DUPAGE, INC.
Wheaton
630-260-2500 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 DuPage 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 DuPage County, Illinois?

    DuPage County has a County Distress Index score of 31.5 out of 100, placing it in the Healthy zone. It ranks 2,676th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 79th in Illinois out of 102 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in DuPage County?

    The primary driver of distress in DuPage County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 67.6 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does DuPage County compare to neighboring counties?

    DuPage County (31.5) can be compared to its 4 neighboring counties: Cook County, IL (57.7); Will County, IL (44.7); Kane County, IL (44.5).

  • 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). DuPage County's score of 31.5 sits in the Healthy zone (below 46).

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

    DuPage 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 DuPage County?

    DuPage County, Illinois has a population of approximately 921,213 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a large county.