Stark County, Illinois

County Distress Index: Elevated · 52.8 | 5,218 people · 17th most distressed in Illinois
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Stark County, IL registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 52.8 — 1412th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Legal Distress, where bankruptcy filings are moderately elevated. Within Illinois, it ranks 17th of 102 counties. Among its 5 neighboring counties, 3 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Stark County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 61.0 — above the national median.

Legal Distress Primary driver 61.0
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 61
Consumer Credit Distress 59.9
Debt in Collections 51
Medical Debt 7
Auto Loan Delinquency 87
Credit Card Delinquency 95
Uninsured Rate 21
Subprime Credit Population 67
Housing Cost Burden 50.9
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 53
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 51
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 70
Homeownership Rate 32
Structural Poverty 44.8
Unemployment Rate 91
Poverty Rate 32
Income vs. State Median 37
Child Poverty Rate 42
Disability Rate 39
Transfer Income Dependency 40
Economic Vitality 26.7
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 11
Rent-to-Income Ratio 19
Business Formation Rate 90
House Price Change (YoY) 5

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Stark County
Stark County, IL 52.8 Elevated —
Knox County, IL 57.8 Elevated +5.0
Peoria County, IL 56.0 Elevated +3.1
Bureau County, IL 32.2 Healthy -20.7
Henry County, IL 29.3 Healthy -23.6
Marshall County, IL 28.1 Healthy -24.7

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Stark County
McMullen County, TX 52.9 Elevated +0.0
Culberson County, TX 52.9 Elevated +0.1
Pershing County, NV 52.8 Elevated -0.1
Guadalupe County, NM 53.1 Elevated +0.2
Clark County, MO 53.1 Elevated +0.3

Download Data

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

Find Help in Stark 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 Stark 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 Stark County, Illinois?

    Stark County has a County Distress Index score of 52.8 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 1,412th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 17th in Illinois out of 102 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Stark County?

    The primary driver of distress in Stark County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 61.0 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Stark County compare to neighboring counties?

    Stark County (52.8) can be compared to its 5 neighboring counties: Knox County, IL (57.8); Peoria County, IL (56.0); Bureau County, IL (32.2).

  • 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). Stark County's score of 52.8 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Stark 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 Stark County?

    Stark County, Illinois has a population of approximately 5,218 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a tiny county.