Montgomery County, Illinois

County Distress Index: Normal · 39.5 | 27,663 people · 51st most distressed in Illinois
American Default Research

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Montgomery County, IL falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 39.5 — 2221st nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Structural Poverty, where income and poverty levels indicate moderate economic strain. Within Illinois, it ranks 51st of 102 counties. Among its 7 neighboring counties, 5 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Montgomery County's primary driver is Structural Poverty at 64.5 — above the national median.

Structural Poverty Primary driver 64.5
Unemployment Rate 87
Poverty Rate 59
Income vs. State Median 70
Child Poverty Rate 52
Disability Rate 68
Transfer Income Dependency 56
Housing Cost Burden 45.3
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 54
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 45
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 24
Homeownership Rate 40
Consumer Credit Distress 34.1
Debt in Collections 40
Medical Debt 7
Auto Loan Delinquency 57
Credit Card Delinquency 24
Uninsured Rate 12
Subprime Credit Population 42
Economic Vitality 31.9
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 1
Rent-to-Income Ratio 24
Business Formation Rate 93
House Price Change (YoY) 95
Legal Distress 20.5
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 21

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Montgomery County
Montgomery County, IL 39.5 Normal —
Madison County, IL 47.0 Normal +7.4
Christian County, IL 44.4 Normal +4.9
Sangamon County, IL 43.1 Normal +3.6
Macoupin County, IL 41.1 Normal +1.6
Fayette County, IL 40.7 Normal +1.2
Bond County, IL 34.3 Healthy -5.2
Shelby County, IL 26.2 Healthy -13.3

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Montgomery County
Shelby County, KY 39.5 Normal +0.0
Stone County, MO 39.5 Normal -0.0
Jerome County, ID 39.6 Normal +0.0
Caledonia County, VT 39.6 Normal +0.1
Freeborn County, MN 39.4 Normal -0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Montgomery 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 Montgomery 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 Montgomery County, Illinois?

    Montgomery County has a County Distress Index score of 39.5 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 2,221st nationally out of 3,144 counties and 51st in Illinois out of 102 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Montgomery County?

    The primary driver of distress in Montgomery County is Structural Poverty, where the county scores 64.5 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Unemployment Rate, Poverty Rate, Income vs. State Median.

  • How does Montgomery County compare to neighboring counties?

    Montgomery County (39.5) can be compared to its 7 neighboring counties: Madison County, IL (47.0); 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 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). Montgomery County's score of 39.5 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Montgomery 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 Montgomery County?

    Montgomery County, Illinois has a population of approximately 27,663 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.