Grundy County, Illinois

County Distress Index: Normal · 45.1 | 53,578 people · 27th most distressed in Illinois
American Default Research

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Grundy County, IL falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 45.1 — 1892nd nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Legal Distress, where bankruptcy filing rates are well above the national average. Within Illinois, it ranks 27th of 102 counties. Among its 5 neighboring counties, 4 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Grundy County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 83.7 — worse than roughly 84% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 83.7
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 84
Housing Cost Burden 74.6
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 71
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 86
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 94
Homeownership Rate 43
Economic Vitality 46.7
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 51
Rent-to-Income Ratio 30
Business Formation Rate 75
House Price Change (YoY) 20
Consumer Credit Distress 33.7
Debt in Collections 28
Medical Debt 7
Auto Loan Delinquency 60
Credit Card Delinquency 35
Uninsured Rate 5
Subprime Credit Population 46
Structural Poverty 14.6
Unemployment Rate 69
Poverty Rate 3
Income vs. State Median 7
Child Poverty Rate 6
Disability Rate 4
Transfer Income Dependency 10

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Grundy County
Grundy County, IL 45.1 Normal —
Kankakee County, IL 60.8 Elevated +15.7
Will County, IL 44.7 Normal -0.4
Kendall County, IL 41.9 Normal -3.2
LaSalle County, IL 39.5 Normal -5.5
Livingston County, IL 32.6 Healthy -12.5

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Grundy County
Crawford County, PA 45.1 Normal 0.0
Aroostook County, ME 45.0 Normal -0.0
Washington County, VA 45.0 Normal -0.1
Worcester County, MD 45.1 Normal +0.1
Ashland County, OH 45.0 Normal -0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Grundy 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 Grundy 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 Grundy County, Illinois?

    Grundy County has a County Distress Index score of 45.1 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 1,892nd nationally out of 3,144 counties and 27th in Illinois out of 102 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Grundy County?

    The primary driver of distress in Grundy County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 83.7 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Grundy County compare to neighboring counties?

    Grundy County (45.1) can be compared to its 5 neighboring counties: Kankakee County, IL (60.8); Will County, IL (44.7); Kendall County, IL (41.9).

  • 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 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). Grundy County's score of 45.1 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Grundy 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 Grundy County?

    Grundy County, Illinois has a population of approximately 53,578 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.