Woodford County, Illinois

County Distress Index: Healthy · 21.1 | 38,285 people · 98th most distressed in Illinois
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Woodford County, IL ranks among the least distressed counties in the country at 21.1 — 3048th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Legal Distress, where bankruptcy filings are moderately elevated. Within Illinois, it ranks 98th of 102 counties. It scores lower 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. Woodford County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 46.9 — above the national median.

Legal Distress Primary driver 46.9
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 47
Housing Cost Burden 33.3
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 45
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 33
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 33
Homeownership Rate 6
Economic Vitality 30.6
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 28
Rent-to-Income Ratio 1
Business Formation Rate 87
House Price Change (YoY) 24
Structural Poverty 15.3
Unemployment Rate 72
Poverty Rate 4
Income vs. State Median 8
Child Poverty Rate 4
Disability Rate 6
Transfer Income Dependency 12
Consumer Credit Distress 11.2
Debt in Collections 9
Medical Debt 7
Auto Loan Delinquency 17
Credit Card Delinquency 10
Uninsured Rate 19
Subprime Credit Population 9

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Woodford County
Woodford County, IL 21.1 Healthy —
Peoria County, IL 56.0 Elevated +34.9
LaSalle County, IL 39.5 Normal +18.5
McLean County, IL 36.9 Normal +15.8
Tazewell County, IL 35.8 Normal +14.7
Livingston County, IL 32.6 Healthy +11.5
Marshall County, IL 28.1 Healthy +7.1

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Woodford County
Pottawatomie County, KS 21.0 Healthy -0.0
Botetourt County, VA 20.9 Healthy -0.2
Saunders County, NE 20.8 Healthy -0.2
Summit County, UT 20.6 Healthy -0.5
Blaine County, ID 20.5 Healthy -0.6

Download Data

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

Find Help in Woodford 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 Woodford 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.

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Frequently Asked Questions

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

    Woodford County has a County Distress Index score of 21.1 out of 100, placing it in the Healthy zone. It ranks 3,048th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 98th in Illinois out of 102 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Woodford County?

    The primary driver of distress in Woodford County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 46.9 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Woodford County compare to neighboring counties?

    Woodford County (21.1) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Peoria County, IL (56.0); LaSalle County, IL (39.5); McLean County, IL (36.9).

  • 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 Healthy 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). Woodford County's score of 21.1 sits in the Healthy zone (below 46).

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

    Woodford 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 Woodford County?

    Woodford County, Illinois has a population of approximately 38,285 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.