Iroquois County, Illinois

County Distress Index: Normal · 36.3 | 26,136 people · 61st most distressed in Illinois
American Default Research

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Iroquois County, IL falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 36.3 — 2409th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Structural Poverty, where income and poverty levels indicate moderate economic strain. Within Illinois, it ranks 61st of 102 counties. Among its 5 neighboring counties, 4 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Iroquois County's primary driver is Structural Poverty at 55.3 — above the national median.

Structural Poverty Primary driver 55.3
Unemployment Rate 90
Poverty Rate 40
Income vs. State Median 54
Child Poverty Rate 41
Disability Rate 61
Transfer Income Dependency 53
Housing Cost Burden 46.5
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 62
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 44
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 30
Homeownership Rate 26
Consumer Credit Distress 30.5
Debt in Collections 33
Medical Debt 7
Auto Loan Delinquency 23
Credit Card Delinquency 34
Uninsured Rate 32
Subprime Credit Population 46
Economic Vitality 25.6
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 20
Rent-to-Income Ratio 11
Business Formation Rate 68
House Price Change (YoY) 16
Legal Distress 20.7
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 21

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Iroquois County
Iroquois County, IL 36.3 Normal —
Kankakee County, IL 60.8 Elevated +24.5
Vermilion County, IL 58.1 Elevated +21.8
Newton County, IN 53.8 Elevated +17.5
Benton County, IN 51.3 Elevated +15.1
Ford County, IL 32.1 Healthy -4.2

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Iroquois County
Cass County, IL 36.2 Normal -0.0
Jackson County, KS 36.3 Normal +0.0
Monroe County, WI 36.4 Normal +0.1
Sagadahoc County, ME 36.4 Normal +0.1
Hubbard County, MN 36.4 Normal +0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Iroquois 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 Iroquois 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 Iroquois County, Illinois?

    Iroquois County has a County Distress Index score of 36.3 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 2,409th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 61st in Illinois out of 102 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Iroquois County?

    The primary driver of distress in Iroquois County is Structural Poverty, where the county scores 55.3 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Unemployment Rate, Poverty Rate, Income vs. State Median.

  • How does Iroquois County compare to neighboring counties?

    Iroquois County (36.3) can be compared to its 5 neighboring counties: Kankakee County, IL (60.8); Vermilion County, IL (58.1); Newton County, IN (53.8).

  • 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). Iroquois County's score of 36.3 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Iroquois 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 Iroquois County?

    Iroquois County, Illinois has a population of approximately 26,136 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.