Piatt County, Illinois

County Distress Index: Healthy · 26.3 | 16,714 people · 93rd most distressed in Illinois
American Default Research

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Piatt County, IL ranks among the least distressed counties in the country at 26.3 — 2917th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Legal Distress, where bankruptcy filings are moderately elevated. Within Illinois, it ranks 93rd of 102 counties. Among its 6 neighboring counties, 5 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Piatt County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 57.5 — above the national median.

Legal Distress Primary driver 57.5
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 58
Economic Vitality 57.5
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 74
Rent-to-Income Ratio 8
Business Formation Rate 80
House Price Change (YoY) 79
Housing Cost Burden 41.7
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 43
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 57
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 37
Homeownership Rate 5
Structural Poverty 18.4
Unemployment Rate 61
Poverty Rate 5
Income vs. State Median 14
Child Poverty Rate 5
Disability Rate 17
Transfer Income Dependency 17
Consumer Credit Distress 10.4
Debt in Collections 11
Medical Debt 7
Auto Loan Delinquency 5
Credit Card Delinquency 15
Uninsured Rate 5
Subprime Credit Population 15

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Piatt County
Piatt County, IL 26.3 Healthy —
Macon County, IL 50.8 Elevated +24.5
Champaign County, IL 44.6 Normal +18.3
McLean County, IL 36.9 Normal +10.6
De Witt County, IL 30.9 Healthy +4.6
Douglas County, IL 28.8 Healthy +2.5
Moultrie County, IL 25.2 Healthy -1.1

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Piatt County
Otoe County, NE 26.2 Healthy -0.1
Shelby County, IL 26.2 Healthy -0.1
Madison County, VA 26.4 Healthy +0.1
Lincoln County, WA 26.4 Healthy +0.1
Seward County, NE 26.2 Healthy -0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Piatt 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 Piatt 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.

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the distress score for Piatt County, Illinois?

    Piatt County has a County Distress Index score of 26.3 out of 100, placing it in the Healthy zone. It ranks 2,917th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 93rd in Illinois out of 102 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Piatt County?

    The primary driver of distress in Piatt County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 57.5 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Piatt County compare to neighboring counties?

    Piatt County (26.3) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Macon County, IL (50.8); Champaign County, IL (44.6); McLean County, IL (36.9).

  • 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 Healthy 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). Piatt County's score of 26.3 sits in the Healthy zone (below 46).

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

    Piatt 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 Piatt County?

    Piatt County, Illinois has a population of approximately 16,714 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.