Kendall County, Illinois

County Distress Index: Normal · 41.9 | 139,976 people · 40th most distressed in Illinois
American Default Research

Behind on your mortgage or facing eviction? Take a 2-minute assessment to see your options.

Kendall County, IL falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 41.9 — 2076th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Legal Distress, where bankruptcy filing rates are well above the national average. Within Illinois, it ranks 40th of 102 counties. Among its 6 neighboring counties, 4 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Kendall County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 78.9 — worse than roughly 79% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 78.9
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 79
Housing Cost Burden 70.3
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 99
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 62
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 99
Homeownership Rate 5
Economic Vitality 67.2
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 99
Rent-to-Income Ratio 54
Business Formation Rate 31
House Price Change (YoY) 18
Consumer Credit Distress 26.4
Debt in Collections 22
Medical Debt 7
Auto Loan Delinquency 23
Credit Card Delinquency 36
Uninsured Rate 11
Subprime Credit Population 44
Structural Poverty 11.9
Unemployment Rate 83
Poverty Rate 1
Income vs. State Median 1
Child Poverty Rate 1
Disability Rate 1
Transfer Income Dependency 3

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Kendall County
Kendall County, IL 41.9 Normal —
DeKalb County, IL 55.8 Elevated +13.9
Grundy County, IL 45.1 Normal +3.2
Will County, IL 44.7 Normal +2.8
Kane County, IL 44.5 Normal +2.6
LaSalle County, IL 39.5 Normal -2.3
DuPage County, IL 31.5 Healthy -10.3

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Kendall County
Sussex County, NJ 41.8 Normal -0.0
Nevada County, CA 41.9 Normal +0.0
Wayne County, NY 41.7 Normal -0.1
Whatcom County, WA 42.0 Normal +0.2
Bonneville County, ID 41.6 Normal -0.2

Download Data

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

Find Help in Kendall 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 Kendall 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 →

Continue Reading

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the distress score for Kendall County, Illinois?

    Kendall County has a County Distress Index score of 41.9 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 2,076th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 40th in Illinois out of 102 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Kendall County?

    The primary driver of distress in Kendall County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 78.9 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Kendall County compare to neighboring counties?

    Kendall County (41.9) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: DeKalb County, IL (55.8); Grundy County, IL (45.1); Will County, IL (44.7).

  • 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 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). Kendall County's score of 41.9 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Kendall 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 Kendall County?

    Kendall County, Illinois has a population of approximately 139,976 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.