Carroll County, Illinois

County Distress Index: Normal · 44.3 | 15,526 people · 54th most distressed in Illinois
American Default Research

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Carroll County, IL falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 44.3 — 2045th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Employment & Wages, where unemployment is elevated, wages are low relative to housing costs, and business formation lags. Within Illinois, it ranks 54th of 102 counties. Among its 6 neighboring counties, 4 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five domains of financial distress. Carroll County's primary driver is Employment & Wages at 72.1 — above the national median.

Employment & Wages Primary driver 72.1
Unemployment Rate 90
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 35
Business Formation Rate 91
Income & Poverty 50.9
Poverty Rate 45
Income vs. State Median 65
Child Poverty Rate 43
Community Vulnerability 44.4
Uninsured Rate 38
Disability Rate 50
Housing Cost Burden 28.3
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 42
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 15
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 37
Homeownership Rate 30
Rent-to-Income Ratio 17
Debt & Delinquency 25.9
Debt in Collections 25
Medical Debt 7
Student Loan Delinquency 49
Auto Loan Delinquency 38
Credit Card Delinquency 23
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 14

Scores are percentile-based: 50 = national median, higher = more distressed. The median line is shown on each bar.

Neighbors and Peers

How Carroll County compares to its 6 neighboring counties and population peers.

Neighboring Counties

County Score Zone vs. Carroll County
Carroll County, IL 44.3 Normal —
Clinton County, IA 46.9 Normal +2.6
Stephenson County, IL 46.3 Normal +2.0
Whiteside County, IL 44.3 Normal -0.0
Ogle County, IL 37.6 Normal -6.7
Jo Daviess County, IL 32.8 Healthy -11.6
Jackson County, IA 32.7 Healthy -11.6

Population Peers

County Score Zone vs. Carroll County
Cass County, IL 44.3 Normal +0.0
Texas County, OK 44.3 Normal -0.0
Langlade County, WI 44.3 Normal -0.0
Washington County, AL 44.3 Normal -0.1
Greene County, NY 44.4 Normal +0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Carroll 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 Carroll 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 Carroll County, Illinois?

    Carroll County has a County Distress Index score of 44.3 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 2,045th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 54th in Illinois out of 102 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Carroll County?

    The primary driver of distress in Carroll County is Employment & Wages, where the county scores 72.1 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Unemployment Rate, Wage-to-Rent Ratio, Business Formation Rate.

  • How does Carroll County compare to neighboring counties?

    Carroll County (44.3) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Clinton County, IA (46.9); Stephenson County, IL (46.3); Whiteside County, IL (44.3).

  • How is the County Distress Index calculated?

    The County Distress Index uses percentile-rank averaging across five domains: Debt & Delinquency, Income & Poverty, Housing Cost Burden, Employment & Wages, and Community Vulnerability. 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.

  • What is the population of Carroll County?

    Carroll County, Illinois has a population of approximately 15,526 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.