Rock Island County, Illinois

County Distress Index: Elevated · 52.0 | 141,236 people · 19th most distressed in Illinois
American Default Research

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Rock Island County, IL registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 52.0 — 1455th 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 19th of 102 counties. It scores higher than all 7 of its neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Rock Island County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 70.1 — above the national median.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 70.1
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 72
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 73
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 43
Homeownership Rate 76
Structural Poverty 57.9
Unemployment Rate 93
Poverty Rate 60
Income vs. State Median 60
Child Poverty Rate 65
Disability Rate 43
Transfer Income Dependency 40
Consumer Credit Distress 46.7
Debt in Collections 53
Medical Debt 7
Auto Loan Delinquency 55
Credit Card Delinquency 70
Uninsured Rate 29
Subprime Credit Population 48
Legal Distress 38.5
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 39
Economic Vitality 37.7
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 6
Rent-to-Income Ratio 55
Business Formation Rate 85
House Price Change (YoY) 57

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Rock Island County
Rock Island County, IL 52.0 Elevated —
Clinton County, IA 49.5 Normal -2.5
Whiteside County, IL 44.4 Normal -7.6
Scott County, IA 44.2 Normal -7.8
Muscatine County, IA 41.4 Normal -10.6
Mercer County, IL 31.0 Healthy -20.9
Louisa County, IA 30.4 Healthy -21.5
Henry County, IL 29.3 Healthy -22.7

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Rock Island County
Bannock County, ID 52.1 Elevated +0.1
Fayette County, GA 52.1 Elevated +0.1
Lenawee County, MI 51.8 Elevated -0.2
St. Clair County, AL 52.2 Elevated +0.2
Ascension Parish, LA 51.7 Elevated -0.3

Download Data

Export all distress indicators for Rock Island County as a CSV file.

Find Help in Rock Island County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Rock Island County.

ECONOMIC GROWTH CORPORATION
Rock Island
309-788-6311 Website
Foreclosure PreventionMortgage HelpFinancial CounselingPost-Purchase

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 Rock Island 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 Rock Island County, Illinois?

    Rock Island County has a County Distress Index score of 52.0 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 1,455th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 19th in Illinois out of 102 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Rock Island County?

    The primary driver of distress in Rock Island County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 70.1 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Rock Island County compare to neighboring counties?

    Rock Island County (52.0) can be compared to its 7 neighboring counties: Clinton County, IA (49.5); Whiteside County, IL (44.4); Scott County, IA (44.2).

  • 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). Rock Island County's score of 52.0 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

  • What data sources power Rock Island County's CDI score?

    Rock Island 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 Rock Island County?

    Rock Island County, Illinois has a population of approximately 141,236 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.