Macon County, Illinois

County Distress Index: Elevated · 50.8 | 100,591 people · 21st most distressed in Illinois
American Default Research

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Macon County, IL registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 50.8 — 1534th 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 21st of 102 counties. It scores higher than all 7 of its neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Macon County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 78.1 — worse than roughly 78% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 78.1
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 78
Structural Poverty 61.9
Unemployment Rate 95
Poverty Rate 66
Income vs. State Median 68
Child Poverty Rate 72
Disability Rate 37
Transfer Income Dependency 44
Consumer Credit Distress 51.2
Debt in Collections 62
Medical Debt 7
Auto Loan Delinquency 69
Credit Card Delinquency 58
Uninsured Rate 9
Subprime Credit Population 64
Housing Cost Burden 43.0
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 38
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 41
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 25
Homeownership Rate 71
Economic Vitality 29.3
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 5
Rent-to-Income Ratio 49
Business Formation Rate 61
House Price Change (YoY) 32

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Macon County
Macon County, IL 50.8 Elevated —
Logan County, IL 49.0 Normal -1.8
Christian County, IL 44.4 Normal -6.4
Sangamon County, IL 43.1 Normal -7.7
De Witt County, IL 30.9 Healthy -19.9
Piatt County, IL 26.3 Healthy -24.5
Shelby County, IL 26.2 Healthy -24.6
Moultrie County, IL 25.2 Healthy -25.6

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Macon County
Yamhill County, OR 50.8 Elevated -0.0
Grays Harbor County, WA 50.8 Elevated +0.0
Berrien County, MI 50.9 Elevated +0.1
Roane County, TN 51.0 Elevated +0.2
Somerset County, ME 50.6 Elevated -0.2

Download Data

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

Find Help in Macon County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Macon County.

COMMUNITY INVESTMENT CORPORATION OF DECATUR, INC
Decatur
217-423-0352
Foreclosure PreventionFinancial CounselingPre-PurchaseHomebuyer Education

See all counselors in Illinois →

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 Macon 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 Macon County, Illinois?

    Macon County has a County Distress Index score of 50.8 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 1,534th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 21st in Illinois out of 102 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Macon County?

    The primary driver of distress in Macon County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 78.1 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Macon County compare to neighboring counties?

    Macon County (50.8) can be compared to its 7 neighboring counties: Logan County, IL (49.0); Christian County, IL (44.4); Sangamon County, IL (43.1).

  • 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). Macon County's score of 50.8 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Macon 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 Macon County?

    Macon County, Illinois has a population of approximately 100,591 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.