In Hamilton County, Illinois, rent on a two-bedroom takes about one in six dollars of the typical household's income
In Hamilton County, 16.8% of the typical household's income would go to rent on a two-bedroom. That is lower than in 87% of U.S. counties.
Less distressed than 66% of U.S. counties.
What drives Hamilton County's score
In Hamilton County, late payments on loans are the highest-scoring part, at 57.4. Housing costs are the lowest part, at 8.5. About one in 23 renters (4.4%, 2020 to 2024) pays half their income or more in rent, a lower share than in 95% of U.S. counties.
The County Distress Index looks at five parts of household money trouble in Hamilton County: jobs, late payments on loans, income and the safety net, collections and bankruptcy, and housing costs. Each part is scored from 0 to 100, and a higher score means worse off than other counties.
Even so, Hamilton County is worse off than most counties on people with a credit card behind (8.1%, August 2025) and people with a disability (19.2%, 2020 to 2024).
A longer bar means more trouble. See how the county score works.
- 57.4 of 100
Late payments
Biggest factorCredit records, August 2025; credit scores, second quarter of 2026
- People with a credit card behind8.1% · August 202585th percentile
- People with a car or retail loan behind5.8% · August 202558th percentile
- People with a subprime credit score34.8% · second quarter of 202628th percentile
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- 56.3 of 100
Jobs
Unemployment through Sep 2026; adults not working, 2020–24 Census survey
- Unemployment rate, average over the latest year4.6% · Oct 2025 to Sep 202673rd percentile
- Adults 25 to 54 not working19.0% · 2020 to 202439th percentile
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- 48.1 of 100
Income and safety net
Poverty and income, 2024; disability and insurance, 2020–24 Census survey
- People below the poverty line10.5% · 202426th percentile
- Children below the poverty line15.1% · 202439th percentile
- People with a disability19.2% · 2020 to 202475th percentile
- People without health insurance7.6% · 2020 to 202447th percentile
- Median household income (lower income, longer bar)$66,346 · 202451st percentile
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- 31.5 of 100
Collections and bankruptcy
Credit records, August 2025; bankruptcy filings, 2025
- People with unpaid debt sent to a collector17.0% · August 202526th percentile
- Bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people101.1 · 202536th percentile
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- 8.5 of 100
Housing costs
Renters, 2020–24 Census survey; HUD's fair market rents, fiscal year 2027
- Renters paying half their income or more in rent4.4% · 2020 to 20245th or lower percentile
- Rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income16.8% · fiscal year 202712th percentile
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Sources: Urban Institute, Debt in America; Equifax via the St. Louis Fed; Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, Table F-5A; U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey; U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Fair Market Rents and Census income; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates. County Distress Index by American Default Research, from data through Sep 2026.
Where the money in Hamilton County comes from
Benefit checks are Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid paid on people's behalf, veterans' benefits, and food and income support, so a high share usually means an older population, low pay, or both. In Hamilton County, 22.9% of residents are 65 or older (Census Bureau, 2024), against 17.2% nationally that year.
Cents of every dollar of income, 2024
Hamilton County
Illinois
United States
- Pay from work
- Investments and rent
- Benefit checks
In Hamilton County, benefit checks' share of income has doubled since 1969, reaching 29.8% in 2024, but pay from work still brings in twice as much as benefit checks
In Hamilton County, Illinois, benefit checks' share of income doubled from 1969 to 2024, reaching 29.8%; pay from work is plotted alongside. Every fifth year and 2024 are shown.
- Benefit checks
- Pay from work
The share of households in Hamilton County getting SNAP food aid had its largest rise, from 10.2% in 2019 to 14.3% in 2020.
The share of households in Hamilton County getting SNAP food aid fell to its lowest on the chart in 2019, then climbed past the 2009 level
Low on the chart: 10.2% in 2019. Households getting SNAP, every year; each bar is a five-year survey estimate ending that year, so neighboring bars share most of their data, Hamilton County, Illinois.
How Hamilton County has changed
Hamilton County's population made its largest gain on the way to its 1979 high, from 8,804 in 1974 to 9,373 in 1979.
Hamilton County's population fell 11% from 1969 to 2024, reaching its lowest on the chart
High on the chart: 9,373 in 1979. Residents, yearly estimate, every fifth year and 2024, Hamilton County, Illinois.
The jobs count covers work located in the county; the population count covers residents.
The number of jobs located in Hamilton County rose 43% from 1990 to 2025, reaching its highest on the chart, with most of the change between 2010 and 2015
Biggest rise: 2010 to 2015, reaching 2,030. Yearly average of jobs covered by unemployment insurance, every fifth year and 2025, Hamilton County, Illinois.
| Measure | Then | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rateBLS LAUS | 1990 9.9% | 2025 4.6% |
| People below the poverty lineCensus SAIPE | 1989 15.2% | 2024 10.5% |
| Median household incomeCensus SAIPE | 1989 $20,131 | 2024 $66,346 |
Figures are as each agency published them, not adjusted for prices.
Dated events in Hamilton County's history
1821
Formed out of White County in 1821. Wikipedia
1900
The county's largest recorded population was the 1900 Census count of 20,197. The 2020 Census counted 7,993, 40% of the peak. Census Bureau
1989
A tornado in January 1989 did $2.5 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
1990
A tornado in June 1990 did $2.5 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
1996
A tornado in April 1996 did $2.8 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
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Since 1989
10 federal disaster and emergency declarations have covered Hamilton County, 5 of them for flooding. FEMA
Hamilton County beside its neighbors
All six counties that border Hamilton County score higher than it does. For the share of income from benefit checks, Hamilton County ranks 5th of the seven; Gallatin County is highest, at 36.3%.
| County | Score | Poverty | Benefit checks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saline County, IL | 84 | 18.0% | 36.1% |
| Franklin County, IL | 82 | 16.4% | 35.0% |
| Jefferson County, IL | 65 | 12.9% | 30.9% |
| Gallatin County, IL | 48 | 17.5% | 36.3% |
| White County, IL | 46 | 14.2% | 28.5% |
| Wayne County, IL | 41 | 14.3% | 28.8% |
| Hamilton County, IL | 33 | 10.5% | 29.8% |
Distress score: American Default Research, County Distress Index, data through Sep 2026; each county scored against all 3,144. Poverty rate: Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates, 2024. Benefit checks: Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024. Neighbors share a border, from Census county maps.
Is Hamilton County the poorest county in Illinois?
No, Hamilton County's poverty rate was 10.5% in 2024, 66th highest of 102 in Illinois (U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates). By that measure the poorest county in the state is Alexander County, at 24.8%. On our distress index, which counts more than poverty, Hamilton County ranks 58th of 102 in the state.
If you're behind on your mortgage in Hamilton County
Housing counselors approved by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development work at nonprofit agencies. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau describes free foreclosure-avoidance counseling, including help with mortgage-company conversations and available options Source CFPB.
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Land of Lincoln Legal Aid
Legal aid
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Illinois Legal Aid Online (ILAO)
Legal help website
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HUD-approved housing counselors
Our help directory lists 1,010 agencies approved for foreclosure counseling, by state.
The score, its 14 measures and their sources, in one file. Free to use with credit to American Default Research.
Download the CSV for Hamilton County · Every U.S. county (CSV)
Sources and method
- American Default Research · County Distress Index Data through Sep 2026, built from Urban Institute, Debt in America; Equifax via the St. Louis Fed; U.S. Courts, Table F-5A; Census Bureau, American Community Survey; HUD Fair Market Rents and Census income; Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates. The County Distress Index is American Default Research's own calculation; the Urban Institute does not produce or endorse it. Our methodology
- Urban Institute · Debt in America Breno Braga, Signe-Mary McKernan, Samantha Atherton, and Kassandra Martinchek, "Debt in America," last updated November 20, 2025, https://datacatalog.urban.org/dataset/debt-america-2025. Licensed under ODC-By 1.0.
- Rent on a two-bedroom and household income The rent share compares HUD fair market rent for fiscal year 2027 with Census Bureau median household income for 2024. The page calls this the typical household's income.
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Economic Accounts (CAINC4) · income shares Where the money in Hamilton County comes from, 2024.
- History The agencies named in each row and the linked records above.