Kankakee County, Illinois

County Distress Index: Elevated · 60.8 | 105,940 people · 3rd most distressed in Illinois
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Kankakee County, IL registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 60.8 — 900th 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 3rd of 102 counties. Among its 7 neighboring counties, 6 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Kankakee County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 77.2 — worse than roughly 77% of U.S. counties.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 77.2
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 79
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 77
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 77
Homeownership Rate 75
Legal Distress 68.2
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 68
Economic Vitality 67.7
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 74
Rent-to-Income Ratio 69
Business Formation Rate 55
House Price Change (YoY) 60
Consumer Credit Distress 54.2
Debt in Collections 56
Medical Debt 7
Auto Loan Delinquency 80
Credit Card Delinquency 65
Uninsured Rate 25
Subprime Credit Population 64
Structural Poverty 48.3
Unemployment Rate 96
Poverty Rate 33
Income vs. State Median 41
Child Poverty Rate 39
Disability Rate 40
Transfer Income Dependency 50

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Kankakee County
Kankakee County, IL 60.8 Elevated —
Lake County, IN 67.2 Serious +6.4
Newton County, IN 53.8 Elevated -7.0
Grundy County, IL 45.1 Normal -15.7
Will County, IL 44.7 Normal -16.1
Iroquois County, IL 36.3 Normal -24.5
Livingston County, IL 32.6 Healthy -28.2
Ford County, IL 32.1 Healthy -28.7

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Kankakee County
Burke County, NC 60.7 Elevated -0.0
Monroe County, FL 60.8 Elevated +0.0
Waller County, TX 60.8 Elevated +0.0
Rockingham County, NC 60.6 Elevated -0.1
Granville County, NC 60.9 Elevated +0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Kankakee 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 Kankakee 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 Kankakee County, Illinois?

    Kankakee County has a County Distress Index score of 60.8 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 900th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 3rd in Illinois out of 102 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Kankakee County?

    The primary driver of distress in Kankakee County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 77.2 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Kankakee County compare to neighboring counties?

    Kankakee County (60.8) can be compared to its 7 neighboring counties: Lake County, IN (67.2); Newton County, IN (53.8); Grundy County, IL (45.1).

  • 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). Kankakee County's score of 60.8 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Kankakee 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 Kankakee County?

    Kankakee County, Illinois has a population of approximately 105,940 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.