Henry County, Illinois

County Distress Index: Healthy · 29.3 | 48,448 people · 87th most distressed in Illinois
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Henry County, IL ranks among the least distressed counties in the country at 29.2 — 2792nd nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Economic Vitality, where employment and wage conditions show moderate stress. Within Illinois, it ranks 87th of 102 counties. It scores lower than all 6 of its neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Henry County's primary driver is Economic Vitality at 55.9 — above the national median.

Economic Vitality Primary driver 55.9
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 65
Rent-to-Income Ratio 26
Business Formation Rate 91
House Price Change (YoY) 31
Legal Distress 41.8
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 42
Structural Poverty 33.3
Unemployment Rate 91
Poverty Rate 17
Income vs. State Median 27
Child Poverty Rate 23
Disability Rate 29
Transfer Income Dependency 27
Housing Cost Burden 31.4
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 34
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 31
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 43
Homeownership Rate 17
Consumer Credit Distress 20.0
Debt in Collections 24
Medical Debt 7
Auto Loan Delinquency 14
Credit Card Delinquency 28
Uninsured Rate 9
Subprime Credit Population 27

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Henry County
Henry County, IL 29.3 Healthy —
Knox County, IL 57.8 Elevated +28.6
Stark County, IL 52.8 Elevated +23.6
Rock Island County, IL 52.0 Elevated +22.7
Whiteside County, IL 44.4 Normal +15.1
Bureau County, IL 32.2 Healthy +2.9
Mercer County, IL 31.0 Healthy +1.8

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Henry County
Oneida County, WI 29.2 Healthy -0.0
Brown County, MN 29.2 Healthy -0.1
Dukes County, MA 29.3 Healthy +0.1
Kodiak Island Borough, AK 29.3 Healthy +0.1
Clayton County, IA 29.1 Healthy -0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Henry 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 Henry 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 Henry County, Illinois?

    Henry County has a County Distress Index score of 29.3 out of 100, placing it in the Healthy zone. It ranks 2,792nd nationally out of 3,144 counties and 87th in Illinois out of 102 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Henry County?

    The primary driver of distress in Henry County is Economic Vitality, where the county scores 55.9 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Wage-to-Rent Ratio, Rent-to-Income Ratio, Business Formation Rate.

  • How does Henry County compare to neighboring counties?

    Henry County (29.3) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Knox County, IL (57.8); Stark County, IL (52.8); Rock Island County, IL (52.0).

  • 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). Henry County's score of 29.3 sits in the Healthy zone (below 46).

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

    Henry 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 Henry County?

    Henry County, Illinois has a population of approximately 48,448 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.