Wayne County, Illinois

County Distress Index: Normal · 38.4 | 15,761 people · 54th most distressed in Illinois
American Default Research

Behind on your mortgage or facing eviction? Take a 2-minute assessment to see your options.

Wayne County, IL falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 38.4 — 2287th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Structural Poverty, where income and poverty levels indicate moderate economic strain. Within Illinois, it ranks 54th of 102 counties. Among its 7 neighboring counties, 4 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Wayne County's primary driver is Structural Poverty at 63.9 — above the national median.

Structural Poverty Primary driver 63.9
Unemployment Rate 78
Poverty Rate 43
Income vs. State Median 84
Child Poverty Rate 50
Disability Rate 62
Transfer Income Dependency 60
Economic Vitality 49.5
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 56
Rent-to-Income Ratio 35
Business Formation Rate 79
House Price Change (YoY) 5
Housing Cost Burden 41.6
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 32
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 51
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 69
Homeownership Rate 24
Legal Distress 36.9
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 37
Consumer Credit Distress 27.6
Debt in Collections 32
Medical Debt 7
Auto Loan Delinquency 5
Credit Card Delinquency 34
Uninsured Rate 74
Subprime Credit Population 33

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Wayne County
Wayne County, IL 38.4 Normal —
Jefferson County, IL 54.8 Elevated +16.4
Marion County, IL 53.1 Elevated +14.7
White County, IL 41.5 Normal +3.2
Richland County, IL 36.5 Normal -1.9
Hamilton County, IL 35.7 Normal -2.7
Edwards County, IL 31.6 Healthy -6.7
Clay County, IL 30.9 Healthy -7.5

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Wayne County
DeKalb County, IN 38.4 Normal +0.0
Spencer County, KY 38.5 Normal +0.1
Harrison County, IN 38.3 Normal -0.1
Warren County, VA 38.2 Normal -0.2
Steele County, MN 38.5 Normal +0.2

Download Data

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

Find Help in Wayne 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 Wayne 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 →

Continue Reading

Frequently Asked Questions

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

    Wayne County has a County Distress Index score of 38.4 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 2,287th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 54th in Illinois out of 102 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Wayne County?

    The primary driver of distress in Wayne County is Structural Poverty, where the county scores 63.9 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Unemployment Rate, Poverty Rate, Income vs. State Median.

  • How does Wayne County compare to neighboring counties?

    Wayne County (38.4) can be compared to its 7 neighboring counties: Jefferson County, IL (54.8); Marion County, IL (53.1); 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). Wayne County's score of 38.4 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Wayne 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 Wayne County?

    Wayne County, Illinois has a population of approximately 15,761 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.