LaSalle County, Illinois

County Distress Index: Normal · 39.5 | 108,309 people · 50th most distressed in Illinois
American Default Research

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LaSalle County, IL falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 39.5 — 2219th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Legal Distress, where bankruptcy filings are moderately elevated. Within Illinois, it ranks 50th of 102 counties. Among its 9 neighboring counties, 6 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. LaSalle County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 64.9 — above the national median.

Legal Distress Primary driver 64.9
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 65
Housing Cost Burden 52.8
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 48
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 60
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 43
Homeownership Rate 53
Structural Poverty 41.3
Unemployment Rate 94
Poverty Rate 34
Income vs. State Median 29
Child Poverty Rate 40
Disability Rate 31
Transfer Income Dependency 36
Economic Vitality 31.9
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 22
Rent-to-Income Ratio 19
Business Formation Rate 87
House Price Change (YoY) 13
Consumer Credit Distress 30.3
Debt in Collections 39
Medical Debt 7
Auto Loan Delinquency 35
Credit Card Delinquency 37
Uninsured Rate 8
Subprime Credit Population 37

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. LaSalle County
LaSalle County, IL 39.5 Normal —
DeKalb County, IL 55.8 Elevated +16.3
Grundy County, IL 45.1 Normal +5.5
Kendall County, IL 41.9 Normal +2.3
Lee County, IL 37.8 Normal -1.8
Livingston County, IL 32.6 Healthy -7.0
Bureau County, IL 32.2 Healthy -7.4
Putnam County, IL 31.0 Healthy -8.5
Marshall County, IL 28.1 Healthy -11.4
Woodford County, IL 21.1 Healthy -18.5

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. LaSalle County
Bradford County, PA 39.6 Normal +0.0
Benton County, OR 39.4 Normal -0.1
Centre County, PA 39.4 Normal -0.2
Augusta County, VA 39.8 Normal +0.2
Madison County, ID 39.8 Normal +0.3

Download Data

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

Find Help in LaSalle 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 LaSalle 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 LaSalle County, Illinois?

    LaSalle County has a County Distress Index score of 39.5 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 2,219th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 50th in Illinois out of 102 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in LaSalle County?

    The primary driver of distress in LaSalle County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 64.9 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does LaSalle County compare to neighboring counties?

    LaSalle County (39.5) can be compared to its 9 neighboring counties: DeKalb County, IL (55.8); Grundy County, IL (45.1); Kendall County, IL (41.9).

  • 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). LaSalle County's score of 39.5 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    LaSalle 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 LaSalle County?

    LaSalle County, Illinois has a population of approximately 108,309 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.