Wabash County, Illinois

County Distress Index: Normal · 43.5 | 10,942 people · 38th most distressed in Illinois
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Wabash County, IL falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 43.5 — 1981st nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Structural Poverty, where income and poverty levels indicate moderate economic strain. Within Illinois, it ranks 38th of 102 counties. Among its 6 neighboring counties, 4 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Wabash County's primary driver is Structural Poverty at 61.9 — above the national median.

Structural Poverty Primary driver 61.9
Unemployment Rate 72
Poverty Rate 57
Income vs. State Median 56
Child Poverty Rate 49
Disability Rate 88
Transfer Income Dependency 56
Housing Cost Burden 51.4
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 26
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 89
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 16
Homeownership Rate 45
Consumer Credit Distress 40.0
Debt in Collections 53
Medical Debt 7
Auto Loan Delinquency 42
Credit Card Delinquency 59
Uninsured Rate 18
Subprime Credit Population 41
Economic Vitality 28.8
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 18
Rent-to-Income Ratio 12
Business Formation Rate 94
House Price Change (YoY) 8
Legal Distress 26.8
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 27

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Wabash County
Wabash County, IL 43.5 Normal —
Knox County, IN 53.8 Elevated +10.3
Lawrence County, IL 44.2 Normal +0.7
White County, IL 41.5 Normal -2.0
Richland County, IL 36.5 Normal -7.0
Gibson County, IN 36.4 Normal -7.1
Edwards County, IL 31.6 Healthy -11.9

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Wabash County
Isanti County, MN 43.6 Normal +0.0
Paulding County, OH 43.6 Normal +0.0
Delaware County, NY 43.6 Normal +0.1
McKenzie County, ND 43.5 Normal -0.1
Perry County, IN 43.4 Normal -0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Wabash 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 Wabash 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 Wabash County, Illinois?

    Wabash County has a County Distress Index score of 43.5 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 1,981st nationally out of 3,144 counties and 38th in Illinois out of 102 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Wabash County?

    The primary driver of distress in Wabash County is Structural Poverty, where the county scores 61.9 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Unemployment Rate, Poverty Rate, Income vs. State Median.

  • How does Wabash County compare to neighboring counties?

    Wabash County (43.5) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Knox County, IN (53.8); Lawrence County, IL (44.2); White County, IL (41.5).

  • 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). Wabash County's score of 43.5 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Wabash 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 Wabash County?

    Wabash County, Illinois has a population of approximately 10,942 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.