Will County, Illinois

County Distress Index: Normal · 44.7 | 700,728 people · 29th most distressed in Illinois
American Default Research

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Will County, IL falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 44.7 — 1919th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Legal Distress, where bankruptcy filing rates are well above the national average. Within Illinois, it ranks 29th of 102 counties. Among its 6 neighboring counties, 4 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Will County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 82.5 — worse than roughly 83% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 82.5
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 83
Housing Cost Burden 70.7
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 81
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 79
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 97
Homeownership Rate 9
Economic Vitality 62.8
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 92
Rent-to-Income Ratio 46
Business Formation Rate 25
House Price Change (YoY) 38
Consumer Credit Distress 32.0
Debt in Collections 27
Medical Debt 7
Auto Loan Delinquency 45
Credit Card Delinquency 40
Uninsured Rate 21
Subprime Credit Population 41
Structural Poverty 13.4
Unemployment Rate 72
Poverty Rate 4
Income vs. State Median 3
Child Poverty Rate 8
Disability Rate 4
Transfer Income Dependency 6

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Will County
Will County, IL 44.7 Normal —
Lake County, IN 67.2 Serious +22.5
Kankakee County, IL 60.8 Elevated +16.1
Cook County, IL 57.7 Elevated +13.0
Grundy County, IL 45.1 Normal +0.4
Kendall County, IL 41.9 Normal -2.8
DuPage County, IL 31.5 Healthy -13.1

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Will County
Kane County, IL 44.5 Normal -0.2
Weber County, UT 44.9 Normal +0.3
Rockland County, NY 44.1 Normal -0.6
Harford County, MD 45.5 Normal +0.8
Dutchess County, NY 43.7 Normal -1.0

Download Data

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

Find Help in Will County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Will County.

WILL COUNTY CENTER FOR COMMUNITY CONCERNS
Joliet
815-722-0722 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 Will 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 Will County, Illinois?

    Will County has a County Distress Index score of 44.7 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 1,919th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 29th in Illinois out of 102 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Will County?

    The primary driver of distress in Will County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 82.5 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Will County compare to neighboring counties?

    Will County (44.7) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Lake County, IN (67.2); Kankakee County, IL (60.8); Cook County, IL (57.7).

  • 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). Will County's score of 44.7 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Will 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 Will County?

    Will County, Illinois has a population of approximately 700,728 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a large county.