Perry County, Illinois

County Distress Index: Normal · 38.7 | 20,503 people · 53rd most distressed in Illinois
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Perry County, IL falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 38.7 — 2274th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Structural Poverty, where poverty rates are high, transfer income dependency is elevated, and household incomes lag well behind state and national medians. Within Illinois, it ranks 53rd of 102 counties. Among its 5 neighboring counties, 4 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Perry County's primary driver is Structural Poverty at 72.3 — above the national median.

Structural Poverty Primary driver 72.3
Unemployment Rate 88
Poverty Rate 73
Income vs. State Median 62
Child Poverty Rate 78
Disability Rate 85
Transfer Income Dependency 61
Housing Cost Burden 38.0
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 62
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 25
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 21
Homeownership Rate 24
Consumer Credit Distress 32.3
Debt in Collections 51
Medical Debt 7
Auto Loan Delinquency 44
Credit Card Delinquency 20
Uninsured Rate 5
Subprime Credit Population 40
Economic Vitality 30.9
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 19
Rent-to-Income Ratio 16
Business Formation Rate 99
House Price Change (YoY) 3
Legal Distress 29.9
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 30

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Perry County
Perry County, IL 38.7 Normal —
Franklin County, IL 61.3 Elevated +22.6
Jackson County, IL 59.9 Elevated +21.2
Jefferson County, IL 54.8 Elevated +16.1
Randolph County, IL 40.0 Normal +1.3
Washington County, IL 19.8 Healthy -18.9

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Perry County
Gooding County, ID 38.7 Normal 0.0
Poweshiek County, IA 38.7 Normal 0.0
Fairfax city, VA 38.7 Normal +0.0
Steele County, MN 38.5 Normal -0.2
Sawyer County, WI 38.9 Normal +0.2

Download Data

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

Find Help in Perry County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Perry County.

WESTERN EGYPTIAN ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY COUNCIL, INC.
Du Quoin
618-542-4656
Foreclosure PreventionFinancial CounselingHome Improvement/RehabHomeless/Displacement

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 Perry 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 Perry County, Illinois?

    Perry County has a County Distress Index score of 38.7 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 2,274th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 53rd in Illinois out of 102 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Perry County?

    The primary driver of distress in Perry County is Structural Poverty, where the county scores 72.3 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Unemployment Rate, Poverty Rate, Income vs. State Median.

  • How does Perry County compare to neighboring counties?

    Perry County (38.7) can be compared to its 5 neighboring counties: Franklin County, IL (61.3); Jackson County, IL (59.9); Jefferson County, IL (54.8).

  • 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). Perry County's score of 38.7 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Perry 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 Perry County?

    Perry County, Illinois has a population of approximately 20,503 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.