Greene County, Illinois

County Distress Index: Healthy · 34.6 | 11,543 people · 67th most distressed in Illinois
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Greene County, IL ranks among the least distressed counties in the country at 34.6 — 2497th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Economic Vitality, where wages are low relative to housing costs, business formation lags, and the local economy lacks dynamism. Within Illinois, it ranks 67th of 102 counties. Among its 6 neighboring counties, 4 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Greene County's primary driver is Economic Vitality at 69.5 — above the national median.

Economic Vitality Primary driver 69.5
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 73
Rent-to-Income Ratio 41
Business Formation Rate 93
House Price Change (YoY) 95
Structural Poverty 63.9
Unemployment Rate 78
Poverty Rate 52
Income vs. State Median 75
Child Poverty Rate 53
Disability Rate 60
Transfer Income Dependency 63
Legal Distress 47.5
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 47
Consumer Credit Distress 22.9
Debt in Collections 30
Medical Debt 7
Auto Loan Delinquency 5
Credit Card Delinquency 9
Uninsured Rate 14
Subprime Credit Population 56
Housing Cost Burden 22.9
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 14
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 29
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 14
Homeownership Rate 37

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Greene County
Greene County, IL 34.6 Healthy —
Pike County, IL 46.5 Normal +11.9
Macoupin County, IL 41.1 Normal +6.5
Morgan County, IL 39.0 Normal +4.4
Jersey County, IL 36.9 Normal +2.3
Scott County, IL 34.0 Healthy -0.6
Calhoun County, IL 20.5 Healthy -14.1

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Greene County
Morton County, ND 34.6 Healthy 0.0
Stark County, ND 34.6 Healthy 0.0
Woodford County, KY 34.6 Healthy +0.0
Stevens County, WA 34.7 Healthy +0.1
Wyandot County, OH 34.7 Healthy +0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Greene 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 Greene 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.

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the distress score for Greene County, Illinois?

    Greene County has a County Distress Index score of 34.6 out of 100, placing it in the Healthy zone. It ranks 2,497th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 67th in Illinois out of 102 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Greene County?

    The primary driver of distress in Greene County is Economic Vitality, where the county scores 69.5 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Wage-to-Rent Ratio, Rent-to-Income Ratio, Business Formation Rate.

  • How does Greene County compare to neighboring counties?

    Greene County (34.6) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Pike County, IL (46.5); Macoupin County, IL (41.1); Morgan County, IL (39.0).

  • 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). Greene County's score of 34.6 sits in the Healthy zone (below 46).

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

    Greene 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 Greene County?

    Greene County, Illinois has a population of approximately 11,543 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.