Jefferson County, Illinois

County Distress Index: Elevated · 54.8 | 36,320 people · 15th most distressed in Illinois
American Default Research

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Jefferson County, IL registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 54.8 — 1290th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Structural Poverty, where poverty rates are high, transfer income dependency is elevated, and household incomes lag well behind state and national medians. Within Illinois, it ranks 15th 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. Jefferson County's primary driver is Structural Poverty at 70.8 — above the national median.

Structural Poverty Primary driver 70.8
Unemployment Rate 88
Poverty Rate 64
Income vs. State Median 70
Child Poverty Rate 66
Disability Rate 71
Transfer Income Dependency 69
Legal Distress 64.0
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 64
Consumer Credit Distress 54.7
Debt in Collections 61
Medical Debt 7
Auto Loan Delinquency 70
Credit Card Delinquency 68
Uninsured Rate 45
Subprime Credit Population 59
Housing Cost Burden 49.4
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 45
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 49
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 50
Homeownership Rate 63
Economic Vitality 37.2
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 15
Rent-to-Income Ratio 43
Business Formation Rate 79
House Price Change (YoY) 52

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Jefferson County
Jefferson County, IL 54.8 Elevated —
Franklin County, IL 61.3 Elevated +6.6
Marion County, IL 53.1 Elevated -1.7
Perry County, IL 38.7 Normal -16.1
Wayne County, IL 38.4 Normal -16.4
Hamilton County, IL 35.7 Normal -19.0
Washington County, IL 19.8 Healthy -35.0

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Jefferson County
Washington County, ID 54.8 Elevated +0.0
Lyon County, KS 54.8 Elevated +0.1
Phelps County, MO 54.7 Elevated -0.1
Ohio County, KY 54.7 Elevated -0.1
Cleburne County, AL 54.7 Elevated -0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Jefferson 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 Jefferson 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 Jefferson County, Illinois?

    Jefferson County has a County Distress Index score of 54.8 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 1,290th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 15th in Illinois out of 102 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Jefferson County?

    The primary driver of distress in Jefferson County is Structural Poverty, where the county scores 70.8 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Unemployment Rate, Poverty Rate, Income vs. State Median.

  • How does Jefferson County compare to neighboring counties?

    Jefferson County (54.8) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Franklin County, IL (61.3); Marion County, IL (53.1); Perry County, IL (38.7).

  • 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 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). Jefferson County's score of 54.8 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Jefferson 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 Jefferson County?

    Jefferson County, Illinois has a population of approximately 36,320 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.