Winnebago County, Illinois

County Distress Index: Elevated · 60.4 | 280,922 people · 5th most distressed in Illinois
American Default Research

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Winnebago County, IL registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 60.4 — 926th 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 5th of 102 counties. It scores higher than all 6 of its neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Winnebago County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 83.3 — worse than roughly 83% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 83.3
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 83
Housing Cost Burden 82.3
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 83
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 87
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 61
Homeownership Rate 84
Structural Poverty 55.7
Unemployment Rate 93
Poverty Rate 59
Income vs. State Median 51
Child Poverty Rate 62
Disability Rate 41
Transfer Income Dependency 43
Consumer Credit Distress 51.6
Debt in Collections 55
Medical Debt 7
Auto Loan Delinquency 72
Credit Card Delinquency 59
Uninsured Rate 30
Subprime Credit Population 63
Economic Vitality 41.7
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 38
Rent-to-Income Ratio 53
Business Formation Rate 46
House Price Change (YoY) 15

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Winnebago County
Winnebago County, IL 60.4 Elevated —
DeKalb County, IL 55.8 Elevated -4.6
Rock County, WI 49.2 Normal -11.2
Stephenson County, IL 44.0 Normal -16.4
Boone County, IL 43.9 Normal -16.5
Ogle County, IL 32.7 Healthy -27.7
Green County, WI 22.5 Healthy -37.9

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Winnebago County
Alachua County, FL 60.5 Elevated +0.0
Hamilton County, TN 60.5 Elevated +0.1
Adams County, CO 60.3 Elevated -0.1
San Joaquin County, CA 60.6 Elevated +0.2
Hamilton County, OH 60.1 Elevated -0.3

Download Data

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

Find Help in Winnebago County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Winnebago County.

REGION 1 PLANNING COUNCIL
Rockford
815-319-4462 Website
Financial CounselingPre-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 Winnebago 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 Winnebago County, Illinois?

    Winnebago County has a County Distress Index score of 60.4 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 926th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 5th in Illinois out of 102 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Winnebago County?

    The primary driver of distress in Winnebago County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 83.3 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Winnebago County compare to neighboring counties?

    Winnebago County (60.4) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: DeKalb County, IL (55.8); Rock County, WI (49.2); Stephenson County, IL (44.0).

  • 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). Winnebago County's score of 60.4 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Winnebago 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 Winnebago County?

    Winnebago County, Illinois has a population of approximately 280,922 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a large county.