Peoria County, Illinois

County Distress Index: Elevated · 56.0 | 177,513 people · 13th most distressed in Illinois
American Default Research

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Peoria County, IL registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 56.0 — 1204th 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 13th of 102 counties. Among its 6 neighboring counties, 5 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Peoria County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 80.5 — worse than roughly 81% of U.S. counties.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 80.5
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 78
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 91
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 55
Homeownership Rate 80
Legal Distress 61.4
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 61
Structural Poverty 55.5
Unemployment Rate 93
Poverty Rate 72
Income vs. State Median 62
Child Poverty Rate 70
Disability Rate 30
Transfer Income Dependency 24
Consumer Credit Distress 50.5
Debt in Collections 54
Medical Debt 7
Auto Loan Delinquency 77
Credit Card Delinquency 56
Uninsured Rate 29
Subprime Credit Population 57
Economic Vitality 21.6
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 1
Rent-to-Income Ratio 37
Business Formation Rate 50
House Price Change (YoY) 22

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Peoria County
Peoria County, IL 56.0 Elevated —
Knox County, IL 57.8 Elevated +1.8
Stark County, IL 52.8 Elevated -3.1
Fulton County, IL 40.0 Normal -15.9
Tazewell County, IL 35.8 Normal -20.2
Marshall County, IL 28.1 Healthy -27.8
Woodford County, IL 21.1 Healthy -34.9

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Peoria County
Cullman County, AL 56.0 Elevated 0.0
Pope County, AR 56.0 Elevated +0.0
Linn County, OR 55.9 Elevated -0.0
Lonoke County, AR 56.1 Elevated +0.1
Greene County, TN 55.8 Elevated -0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Peoria County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Peoria County.

METEC
Peoria
309-676-3832 Website
Foreclosure PreventionFinancial CounselingHomeless/DisplacementPre-Purchase
NAVICORE SOLUTIONS- PEORIA, IL
Peoria
866-472-4557 Website
Foreclosure PreventionFinancial CounselingFinancial CounselingHome Improvement/Rehab

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 Peoria 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 Peoria County, Illinois?

    Peoria County has a County Distress Index score of 56.0 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 1,204th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 13th in Illinois out of 102 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Peoria County?

    The primary driver of distress in Peoria County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 80.5 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Peoria County compare to neighboring counties?

    Peoria County (56.0) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Knox County, IL (57.8); 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). Peoria County's score of 56.0 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Peoria 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 Peoria County?

    Peoria County, Illinois has a population of approximately 177,513 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.