Henderson County, Illinois

County Distress Index: Normal · 40.8 | 6,088 people · 43rd most distressed in Illinois
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Henderson County, IL falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 40.8 — 2139th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Structural Poverty, where income and poverty levels indicate moderate economic strain. Within Illinois, it ranks 43rd of 102 counties. Its score is in the middle of its 6 neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Henderson County's primary driver is Structural Poverty at 60.7 — above the national median.

Structural Poverty Primary driver 60.7
Unemployment Rate 87
Poverty Rate 47
Income vs. State Median 63
Child Poverty Rate 37
Disability Rate 76
Transfer Income Dependency 57
Economic Vitality 57.9
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 78
Rent-to-Income Ratio 16
Business Formation Rate 95
House Price Change (YoY) 7
Consumer Credit Distress 44.5
Debt in Collections 50
Medical Debt 7
Auto Loan Delinquency 95
Credit Card Delinquency 50
Uninsured Rate 5
Subprime Credit Population 32
Legal Distress 35.5
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 36
Housing Cost Burden 15.5
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 15
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 19
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 23
Homeownership Rate 5

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Henderson County
Henderson County, IL 40.8 Normal —
Des Moines County, IA 62.6 Elevated +21.8
McDonough County, IL 60.7 Elevated +19.9
Lee County, IA 47.7 Normal +6.9
Warren County, IL 32.6 Healthy -8.2
Mercer County, IL 31.0 Healthy -9.8
Hancock County, IL 28.9 Healthy -12.0

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Henderson County
Mora County, NM 40.8 Normal -0.1
Dewey County, OK 40.8 Normal -0.1
Norton County, KS 40.9 Normal +0.1
Armstrong County, TX 40.9 Normal +0.1
Grant County, OR 41.0 Normal +0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Henderson 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 Henderson 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 Henderson County, Illinois?

    Henderson County has a County Distress Index score of 40.8 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 2,139th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 43rd in Illinois out of 102 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Henderson County?

    The primary driver of distress in Henderson County is Structural Poverty, where the county scores 60.7 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Unemployment Rate, Poverty Rate, Income vs. State Median.

  • How does Henderson County compare to neighboring counties?

    Henderson County (40.8) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Des Moines County, IA (62.6); McDonough County, IL (60.7); Lee County, IA (47.7).

  • 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). Henderson County's score of 40.8 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Henderson 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 Henderson County?

    Henderson County, Illinois has a population of approximately 6,088 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a tiny county.