Jackson County, Illinois

County Distress Index: Elevated · 59.9 | 52,141 people · 6th most distressed in Illinois
American Default Research

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Jackson County, IL registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 59.9 — 953rd nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Housing Cost Burden, where a large share of households spend more than 30% of income on housing. Within Illinois, it ranks 6th of 102 counties. Among its 6 neighboring counties, 5 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Jackson County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 86.4 — worse than roughly 86% of U.S. counties.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 86.4
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 88
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 93
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 42
Homeownership Rate 99
Structural Poverty 75.8
Unemployment Rate 87
Poverty Rate 88
Income vs. State Median 96
Child Poverty Rate 73
Disability Rate 61
Transfer Income Dependency 53
Legal Distress 51.9
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 52
Consumer Credit Distress 49.1
Debt in Collections 61
Medical Debt 7
Auto Loan Delinquency 56
Credit Card Delinquency 51
Uninsured Rate 38
Subprime Credit Population 62
Economic Vitality 34.9
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 7
Rent-to-Income Ratio 65
Business Formation Rate 74
House Price Change (YoY) 11

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Jackson County
Jackson County, IL 59.9 Elevated —
Franklin County, IL 61.3 Elevated +1.4
Williamson County, IL 52.8 Elevated -7.1
Perry County, MO 45.3 Normal -14.7
Union County, IL 44.0 Normal -16.0
Randolph County, IL 40.0 Normal -19.9
Perry County, IL 38.7 Normal -21.2

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Jackson County
Garfield County, OK 60.0 Elevated +0.0
Aiken County, SC 59.9 Elevated -0.0
Flagler County, FL 59.9 Elevated -0.0
Anderson County, TN 59.9 Elevated -0.0
Elkhart County, IN 60.0 Elevated +0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Jackson 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 Jackson 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 Jackson County, Illinois?

    Jackson County has a County Distress Index score of 59.9 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 953rd nationally out of 3,144 counties and 6th in Illinois out of 102 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Jackson County?

    The primary driver of distress in Jackson County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 86.4 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Jackson County compare to neighboring counties?

    Jackson County (59.9) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Franklin County, IL (61.3); Williamson County, IL (52.8); Perry County, MO (45.3).

  • 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 Elevated 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). Jackson County's score of 59.9 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Jackson 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 Jackson County?

    Jackson County, Illinois has a population of approximately 52,141 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.