Edgar County, Illinois

County Distress Index: Normal · 40.7 | 16,334 people · 44th most distressed in Illinois
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Edgar County, IL falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 40.7 — 2149th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Structural Poverty, where poverty rates are high, transfer income dependency is elevated, and household incomes lag well behind state and national medians. Within Illinois, it ranks 44th of 102 counties. Among its 7 neighboring counties, 5 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Edgar County's primary driver is Structural Poverty at 66.1 — above the national median.

Structural Poverty Primary driver 66.1
Unemployment Rate 83
Poverty Rate 50
Income vs. State Median 74
Child Poverty Rate 50
Disability Rate 71
Transfer Income Dependency 66
Legal Distress 58.8
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 59
Consumer Credit Distress 41.8
Debt in Collections 57
Medical Debt 7
Auto Loan Delinquency 37
Credit Card Delinquency 62
Uninsured Rate 13
Subprime Credit Population 47
Economic Vitality 30.9
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 8
Rent-to-Income Ratio 24
Business Formation Rate 69
House Price Change (YoY) 94
Housing Cost Burden 21.0
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 23
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 7
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 7
Homeownership Rate 58

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Edgar County
Edgar County, IL 40.7 Normal —
Vigo County, IN 70.3 Serious +29.6
Vermilion County, IL 58.1 Elevated +17.4
Vermillion County, IN 52.3 Elevated +11.6
Coles County, IL 51.9 Elevated +11.2
Champaign County, IL 44.6 Normal +3.9
Clark County, IL 37.9 Normal -2.8
Douglas County, IL 28.8 Healthy -11.9

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Edgar County
Bedford County, PA 40.7 Normal -0.0
Fayette County, IL 40.7 Normal -0.0
Susquehanna County, PA 40.7 Normal -0.0
Gaines County, TX 40.7 Normal -0.0
Pacific County, WA 40.8 Normal +0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Edgar County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Edgar County.

ERBA EDGAR COUNTY OUTREACH OFFICE
Paris
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 Edgar 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 Edgar County, Illinois?

    Edgar County has a County Distress Index score of 40.7 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 2,149th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 44th in Illinois out of 102 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Edgar County?

    The primary driver of distress in Edgar County is Structural Poverty, where the county scores 66.1 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Unemployment Rate, Poverty Rate, Income vs. State Median.

  • How does Edgar County compare to neighboring counties?

    Edgar County (40.7) can be compared to its 7 neighboring counties: Vigo County, IN (70.3); Vermilion County, IL (58.1); Vermillion County, IN (52.3).

  • 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 Normal 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). Edgar County's score of 40.7 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Edgar 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 Edgar County?

    Edgar County, Illinois has a population of approximately 16,334 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.