Edwards County, Illinois

County Distress Index: Healthy · 31.6 | 5,968 people · 78th most distressed in Illinois
American Default Research

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

Edwards County, IL ranks among the least distressed counties in the country at 31.6 — 2667th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Structural Poverty, where income and poverty levels indicate moderate economic strain. Within Illinois, it ranks 78th 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. Edwards County's primary driver is Structural Poverty at 61.4 — above the national median.

Structural Poverty Primary driver 61.4
Unemployment Rate 78
Poverty Rate 53
Income vs. State Median 72
Child Poverty Rate 38
Disability Rate 82
Transfer Income Dependency 48
Economic Vitality 44.1
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 52
Rent-to-Income Ratio 22
Business Formation Rate 70
House Price Change (YoY) 23
Consumer Credit Distress 28.5
Debt in Collections 19
Medical Debt 7
Auto Loan Delinquency 58
Credit Card Delinquency 11
Uninsured Rate 45
Subprime Credit Population 35
Housing Cost Burden 19.4
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 30
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 12
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 5
Homeownership Rate 23
Legal Distress 18.2
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 18

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Edwards County
Edwards County, IL 31.6 Healthy —
Wabash County, IL 43.5 Normal +11.9
White County, IL 41.5 Normal +9.9
Wayne County, IL 38.4 Normal +6.7
Richland County, IL 36.5 Normal +4.9

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Edwards County
Cherry County, NE 31.6 Healthy +0.0
Hettinger County, ND 31.6 Healthy -0.0
Wayne County, NE 31.6 Healthy -0.0
Daviess County, MO 31.6 Healthy -0.1
Wrangell City and Borough, AK 31.6 Healthy -0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Edwards 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 Edwards 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 Edwards County, Illinois?

    Edwards County has a County Distress Index score of 31.6 out of 100, placing it in the Healthy zone. It ranks 2,667th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 78th in Illinois out of 102 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Edwards County?

    The primary driver of distress in Edwards County is Structural Poverty, where the county scores 61.4 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Unemployment Rate, Poverty Rate, Income vs. State Median.

  • How does Edwards County compare to neighboring counties?

    Edwards County (31.6) can be compared to its 4 neighboring counties: Wabash County, IL (43.5); White County, IL (41.5); Wayne County, IL (38.4).

  • 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). Edwards County's score of 31.6 sits in the Healthy zone (below 46).

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

    Edwards 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 Edwards County?

    Edwards County, Illinois has a population of approximately 5,968 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a tiny county.