McHenry County, Illinois

County Distress Index: Normal · 37.1 | 312,800 people · 57th most distressed in Illinois
American Default Research

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McHenry County, IL falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 37.1 — 2356th 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 57th of 102 counties. Among its 7 neighboring counties, 6 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. McHenry County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 72.0 — above the national median.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 72.0
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 86
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 77
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 99
Homeownership Rate 8
Economic Vitality 68.8
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 96
Rent-to-Income Ratio 50
Business Formation Rate 49
House Price Change (YoY) 26
Legal Distress 63.6
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 64
Consumer Credit Distress 17.8
Debt in Collections 14
Medical Debt 7
Auto Loan Delinquency 19
Credit Card Delinquency 25
Uninsured Rate 14
Subprime Credit Population 23
Structural Poverty 11.7
Unemployment Rate 61
Poverty Rate 1
Income vs. State Median 3
Child Poverty Rate 4
Disability Rate 5
Transfer Income Dependency 8

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. McHenry County
McHenry County, IL 37.1 Normal —
Cook County, IL 57.7 Elevated +20.5
DeKalb County, IL 55.8 Elevated +18.6
Kenosha County, WI 53.6 Elevated +16.5
Kane County, IL 44.5 Normal +7.4
Boone County, IL 43.9 Normal +6.8
Walworth County, WI 38.2 Normal +1.1
Lake County, IL 36.1 Normal -1.1

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. McHenry County
Placer County, CA 37.4 Normal +0.2
Jefferson County, CO 37.7 Normal +0.6
Utah County, UT 36.5 Normal -0.6
Westmoreland County, PA 38.1 Normal +0.9
Cumberland County, PA 38.2 Normal +1.0

Download Data

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

Find Help in McHenry County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near McHenry County.

CONSUMER CREDIT COUNSELING SERVICES OF NORTHERN ILLINOIS
Woodstock
815-338-5757 Website
Foreclosure PreventionMortgage HelpFinancial CounselingFinancial Counseling
RESTORATION AMERICA, INC.
Crystal Lake
847-783-0232 Website
Foreclosure PreventionMortgage HelpFinancial CounselingFinancial Counseling

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 McHenry 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 McHenry County, Illinois?

    McHenry County has a County Distress Index score of 37.1 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 2,356th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 57th in Illinois out of 102 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in McHenry County?

    The primary driver of distress in McHenry County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 72.0 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does McHenry County compare to neighboring counties?

    McHenry County (37.1) can be compared to its 7 neighboring counties: Cook County, IL (57.7); DeKalb County, IL (55.8); Kenosha County, WI (53.6).

  • 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). McHenry County's score of 37.1 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    McHenry 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 McHenry County?

    McHenry County, Illinois has a population of approximately 312,800 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a large county.