In Iroquois County, Illinois, rent on a two-bedroom takes about one in six dollars of the typical household's income
In Iroquois County, 15.9% of the typical household's income would go to rent on a two-bedroom. That is lower than in 93% of U.S. counties.
Less distressed than 73% of U.S. counties.
What drives Iroquois County's score
In Iroquois County, jobs are the highest-scoring part, at 67.0. Housing costs are the lowest part, at 18.3.
The County Distress Index looks at five parts of household money trouble in Iroquois 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, Iroquois County is worse off than most counties on unemployment rate, average over the latest year (5.0%, Oct 2025 to Sep 2026).
A longer bar means more trouble. See how the county score works.
- 67.0 of 100
Jobs
Biggest factorUnemployment through Sep 2026; adults not working, 2020–24 Census survey
- Unemployment rate, average over the latest year5.0% · Oct 2025 to Sep 202682nd percentile
- Adults 25 to 54 not working21.0% · 2020 to 202451st percentile
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- 35.7 of 100
Income and safety net
Poverty and income, 2024; disability and insurance, 2020–24 Census survey
- People below the poverty line10.4% · 202425th percentile
- Children below the poverty line13.2% · 202428th percentile
- People with a disability16.2% · 2020 to 202452nd percentile
- People without health insurance6.0% · 2020 to 202431st percentile
- Median household income (lower income, longer bar)$70,408 · 202440th percentile
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- 35.4 of 100
Late payments
Credit records, August 2025; credit scores, second quarter of 2026
- People with a credit card behind4.5% · August 202533rd percentile
- People with a car or retail loan behind3.4% · August 202523rd percentile
- People with a subprime credit score40.1% · second quarter of 202649th percentile
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- 26.6 of 100
Collections and bankruptcy
Credit records, August 2025; bankruptcy filings, 2025
- People with unpaid debt sent to a collector18.4% · August 202532nd percentile
- Bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people72.7 · 202520th percentile
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- 18.3 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 rent14.8% · 2020 to 202430th percentile
- Rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income15.9% · fiscal year 20276th 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 Iroquois 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 Iroquois County, 22.6% of residents are 65 or older (Census Bureau, 2024), against 17.2% nationally that year.
Cents of every dollar of income, 2024
Iroquois County
Illinois
United States
- Pay from work
- Investments and rent
- Benefit checks
In Iroquois County, benefit checks' share of income has more than tripled since 1969, reaching 27.7% in 2024, but pay from work still brings in twice as much as benefit checks
In Iroquois County, Illinois, benefit checks' share of income more than tripled from 1969 to 2024, reaching 27.7%; pay from work is plotted alongside. Every fifth year and 2024 are shown.
- Benefit checks
- Pay from work
The share of households in Iroquois County getting SNAP food aid had its largest rise, from 11.1% in 2014 to 12.5% in 2015.
The share of households in Iroquois County getting SNAP food aid doubled from 2009 to 2024, reaching 14.2%
High on the chart: 14.4% in 2023. Households getting SNAP, every year; each bar is a five-year survey estimate ending that year, so neighboring bars share most of their data, Iroquois County, Illinois.
How Iroquois County has changed
Iroquois County's population had its largest drop, from 32,541 in 1984 to 30,997 in 1989.
Iroquois County's population fell by about a quarter to 26,067, the lowest on the chart
High on the chart: 34,020 in 1974. Residents, yearly estimate, every fifth year and 2024, Iroquois County, Illinois.
The number of jobs located in Iroquois County had its largest rise, from 7,772 in 1990 to 9,487 in 1995.
The number of jobs located in Iroquois County was at its highest on the chart in 1995 and has since fallen by about a quarter
High on the chart: 9,487 in 1995. Yearly average of jobs covered by unemployment insurance, every fifth year and 2025, Iroquois County, Illinois.
| Measure | Then | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rateBLS LAUS | 1990 4.8% | 2025 4.9% |
| People below the poverty lineCensus SAIPE | 1989 9.1% | 2024 10.4% |
| Median household incomeCensus SAIPE | 1989 $24,201 | 2024 $70,408 |
The table uses 4.9% for 2025; the score uses 5.0% for the latest year (Oct 2025 to Sep 2026), both from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Figures are as each agency published them, not adjusted for prices.
Dated events in Iroquois County's history
1833
Created on February 26, 1833, out of a portion of Vermilion County. Wikipedia
1900
The county's largest recorded population was the 1900 Census count of 38,014. The 2020 Census counted 27,077, 71% of the peak. Census Bureau
1968
A tornado in May 1968 did $2.5 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
1990
A tornado in October 1990 did $2.5 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
1991
A tornado in March 1991 did $2.5 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2008
A flood in January 2008 did $3 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
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Since 1990
9 federal disaster and emergency declarations have covered Iroquois County, 3 of them for flooding. FEMA
Iroquois County beside its neighbors
All five counties that border Iroquois County, in Illinois and Indiana, score higher than it does. For the share of income from benefit checks, Iroquois County ranks 2nd of the six; Vermilion County is highest, at 30.9%.
| County | Score | Poverty | Benefit checks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vermilion County, IL | 73 | 17.3% | 30.9% |
| Kankakee County, IL | 69 | 13.1% | 27.2% |
| Benton County, IN | 52 | 9.8% | 24.6% |
| Newton County, IN | 51 | 9.9% | 24.2% |
| Ford County, IL | 27 | 9.3% | 20.6% |
| Iroquois County, IL | 26 | 10.4% | 27.7% |
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 Iroquois County the poorest county in Illinois?
No, Iroquois County's poverty rate was 10.4% in 2024, 68th 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, Iroquois County ranks 70th of 102 in the state.
If you're behind on your mortgage in Iroquois 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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Prairie State Legal Services
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 Iroquois 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 Iroquois County comes from, 2024.
- History The agencies named in each row and the linked records above.