Williamson County, Illinois

County Distress Index: Elevated · 52.8 | 66,706 people · 18th most distressed in Illinois
American Default Research

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Williamson County, IL registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 52.8 — 1416th 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 18th of 102 counties. Its score is in the middle of its 6 neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Williamson County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 68.0 — above the national median.

Legal Distress Primary driver 68.0
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 68
Structural Poverty 65.5
Unemployment Rate 78
Poverty Rate 72
Income vs. State Median 69
Child Poverty Rate 69
Disability Rate 75
Transfer Income Dependency 41
Housing Cost Burden 60.1
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 74
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 49
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 43
Homeownership Rate 66
Economic Vitality 46.3
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 35
Rent-to-Income Ratio 45
Business Formation Rate 84
House Price Change (YoY) 33
Consumer Credit Distress 44.6
Debt in Collections 58
Medical Debt 7
Auto Loan Delinquency 48
Credit Card Delinquency 56
Uninsured Rate 20
Subprime Credit Population 53

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Williamson County
Williamson County, IL 52.8 Elevated —
Franklin County, IL 61.3 Elevated +8.5
Jackson County, IL 59.9 Elevated +7.1
Saline County, IL 59.0 Elevated +6.2
Union County, IL 44.0 Normal -8.8
Johnson County, IL 39.8 Normal -13.0
Pope County, IL 33.4 Healthy -19.4

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Williamson County
Lycoming County, PA 52.8 Elevated +0.0
Guadalupe County, TX 52.9 Elevated +0.1
Clinton County, NY 52.9 Elevated +0.1
Oswego County, NY 53.0 Elevated +0.2
Indian River County, FL 53.0 Elevated +0.2

Download Data

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

Find Help in Williamson 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 Williamson 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 Williamson County, Illinois?

    Williamson County has a County Distress Index score of 52.8 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 1,416th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 18th in Illinois out of 102 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Williamson County?

    The primary driver of distress in Williamson County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 68.0 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Williamson County compare to neighboring counties?

    Williamson County (52.8) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Franklin County, IL (61.3); Jackson County, IL (59.9); Saline County, IL (59.0).

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

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

    Williamson 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 Williamson County?

    Williamson County, Illinois has a population of approximately 66,706 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.