Scott County, Illinois

County Distress Index: Healthy · 34.0 | 4,710 people · 69th most distressed in Illinois
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Scott County, IL ranks among the least distressed counties in the country at 34.0 — 2520th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Structural Poverty, where income and poverty levels indicate moderate economic strain. Within Illinois, it ranks 69th of 102 counties. It scores lower than all 3 of its neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Scott County's primary driver is Structural Poverty at 46.6 — above the national median.

Structural Poverty Primary driver 46.6
Unemployment Rate 95
Poverty Rate 32
Income vs. State Median 45
Child Poverty Rate 45
Disability Rate 44
Transfer Income Dependency 33
Consumer Credit Distress 43.1
Debt in Collections 18
Medical Debt 7
Auto Loan Delinquency 76
Credit Card Delinquency 74
Uninsured Rate 19
Subprime Credit Population 50
Economic Vitality 32.1
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 22
Rent-to-Income Ratio 8
Business Formation Rate 89
House Price Change (YoY) 46
Legal Distress 28.1
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 28
Housing Cost Burden 9.7
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 8
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 6
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 9
Homeownership Rate 23

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Scott County
Scott County, IL 34.0 Healthy —
Pike County, IL 46.5 Normal +12.5
Morgan County, IL 39.0 Normal +5.0
Greene County, IL 34.6 Healthy +0.6

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Scott County
Ringgold County, IA 34.0 Healthy -0.0
Clark County, ID 34.1 Healthy +0.0
Skagway Municipality, AK 34.0 Healthy -0.0
Mercer County, MO 34.0 Healthy -0.0
Emmet County, IA 33.9 Healthy -0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Scott 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 Scott 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 Scott County, Illinois?

    Scott County has a County Distress Index score of 34.0 out of 100, placing it in the Healthy zone. It ranks 2,520th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 69th in Illinois out of 102 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Scott County?

    The primary driver of distress in Scott County is Structural Poverty, where the county scores 46.6 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Unemployment Rate, Poverty Rate, Income vs. State Median.

  • How does Scott County compare to neighboring counties?

    Scott County (34.0) can be compared to its 3 neighboring counties: Pike County, IL (46.5); Morgan County, IL (39.0); Greene County, IL (34.6).

  • 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). Scott County's score of 34.0 sits in the Healthy zone (below 46).

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

    Scott 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 Scott County?

    Scott County, Illinois has a population of approximately 4,710 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a tiny county.