Knox County, Illinois

County Distress Index: Elevated · 57.8 | 48,411 people · 9th most distressed in Illinois
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Knox County, IL registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 57.8 — 1092nd 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 9th of 102 counties. It scores higher than all 6 of its neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Knox County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 87.1 — worse than roughly 87% of U.S. counties.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 87.1
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 94
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 96
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 57
Homeownership Rate 71
Structural Poverty 71.7
Unemployment Rate 90
Poverty Rate 69
Income vs. State Median 80
Child Poverty Rate 66
Disability Rate 39
Transfer Income Dependency 80
Legal Distress 45.6
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 46
Consumer Credit Distress 44.8
Debt in Collections 56
Medical Debt 7
Auto Loan Delinquency 72
Credit Card Delinquency 35
Uninsured Rate 24
Subprime Credit Population 52
Economic Vitality 43.5
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 37
Rent-to-Income Ratio 29
Business Formation Rate 91
House Price Change (YoY) 29

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Knox County
Knox County, IL 57.8 Elevated —
Peoria County, IL 56.0 Elevated -1.8
Stark County, IL 52.8 Elevated -5.0
Fulton County, IL 40.0 Normal -17.8
Warren County, IL 32.6 Healthy -25.2
Mercer County, IL 31.0 Healthy -26.8
Henry County, IL 29.3 Healthy -28.6

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Knox County
Dallas County, MO 57.8 Elevated +0.0
Pickens County, GA 57.8 Elevated -0.0
Lincoln County, KY 57.8 Elevated -0.0
Gallia County, OH 57.8 Elevated -0.0
Franklin County, FL 57.8 Elevated -0.0

Download Data

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

Find Help in Knox 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 Knox 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 Knox County, Illinois?

    Knox County has a County Distress Index score of 57.8 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 1,092nd nationally out of 3,144 counties and 9th in Illinois out of 102 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Knox County?

    The primary driver of distress in Knox County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 87.1 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Knox County compare to neighboring counties?

    Knox County (57.8) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Peoria County, IL (56.0); Stark County, IL (52.8); Fulton County, IL (40.0).

  • 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). Knox County's score of 57.8 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Knox 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 Knox County?

    Knox County, Illinois has a population of approximately 48,411 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.