Unemployment in Knox County, Illinois, is higher than in 87% of U.S. counties
In Knox County, 5.4% of the labor force was out of work, on average. That is higher than in 87% of U.S. counties.
More distressed than 62% of U.S. counties.
What drives Knox County's score
In Knox County, jobs weigh most: the score for jobs is 72.5. Housing costs come next, at 57.0.
The County Distress Index looks at five parts of household money trouble in Knox 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.
Knox County does better than most counties on two measures: people without health insurance (5.0%, 2020 to 2024) and rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income (19.0%, fiscal year 2027).
A longer bar means more trouble. See how the county score works.
- 72.5 of 100
Jobs
Biggest factorUnemployment through Sep 2026; adults not working, 2020–24 Census survey
- Unemployment rate, average over the latest year5.4% · Oct 2025 to Sep 202687th percentile
- Adults 25 to 54 not working21.8% · 2020 to 202456th percentile
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- 57.0 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 rent24.0% · 2020 to 202482nd percentile
- Rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income19.0% · fiscal year 202731st percentile
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- 56.6 of 100
Late payments
Credit records, August 2025; credit scores, second quarter of 2026
- People with a credit card behind4.6% · August 202534th percentile
- People with a car or retail loan behind6.9% · August 202571st percentile
- People with a subprime credit score43.9% · second quarter of 202663rd percentile
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- 53.7 of 100
Income and safety net
Poverty and income, 2024; disability and insurance, 2020–24 Census survey
- People below the poverty line15.7% · 202468th percentile
- Children below the poverty line20.7% · 202467th percentile
- People with a disability15.0% · 2020 to 202440th percentile
- People without health insurance5.0% · 2020 to 202419th percentile
- Median household income (lower income, longer bar)$58,896 · 202473rd percentile
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- 50.6 of 100
Collections and bankruptcy
Credit records, August 2025; bankruptcy filings, 2025
- People with unpaid debt sent to a collector24.6% · August 202555th percentile
- Bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people117.7 · 202545th 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 Knox 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 Knox County, 22.2% of residents are 65 or older (Census Bureau, 2024), against 17.2% nationally that year.
Cents of every dollar of income, 2024
Knox County
Illinois
United States
- Pay from work
- Investments and rent
- Benefit checks
In Knox County, benefit checks' share of income has grown to about four times its 1969 level, reaching 33.9% in 2024, but pay from work still brings in about one and a half times as much as benefit checks
In Knox County, Illinois, benefit checks' share of income grew to about four times its 1969 level by 2024, reaching 33.9%; pay from work is plotted alongside. Every fifth year and 2024 are shown.
- Benefit checks
- Pay from work
The share of households in Knox County getting SNAP food aid had its largest drop in the last span, from 17.1% in 2023 to 15.4% in 2024.
The share of households in Knox County getting SNAP food aid was at its highest on the chart in 2022 and has since fallen to 15.4%
Low on the chart: 12.8% in 2009. Households getting SNAP, every year; each bar is a five-year survey estimate ending that year, so neighboring bars share most of their data, Knox County, Illinois.
How Knox County has changed
Knox County's population had its largest drop, from 61,720 in 1979 to 58,668 in 1984.
Knox County's population fell by about a fifth to 48,716, the lowest on the chart
High on the chart: 62,141 in 1974. Residents, yearly estimate, every fifth year and 2024, Knox County, Illinois.
The number of jobs located in Knox County had its largest drop, from 24,520 in 2000 to 19,591 in 2005.
The number of jobs located in Knox County was at its highest on the chart in 2000 and is down 30% since
High on the chart: 24,520 in 2000. Yearly average of jobs covered by unemployment insurance, every fifth year and 2025, Knox County, Illinois.
| Measure | Then | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rateBLS LAUS | 1990 6.4% | 2025 5.1% |
| People below the poverty lineCensus SAIPE | 1989 11.5% | 2024 15.7% |
| Median household incomeCensus SAIPE | 1989 $25,077 | 2024 $58,896 |
The table uses 5.1% for 2025; the score uses 5.4% 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 Knox County's history
1825
The modern Knox County, Illinois, was organized in 1825, from Fulton County. Wikipedia
1961
A tornado in May 1961 did $2.5 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
1980
The county's largest recorded population was the 1980 Census count of 61,607. The 2020 Census counted 49,967, 81% of the peak. Census Bureau
2002
A thunderstorm in March 2002 killed one person. NOAA Storm Events Database
2004
Maytag plant closed in 2004. Wikipedia
2007
A thunderstorm in August 2007 killed one person. NOAA Storm Events Database
2013
A flash flood in April 2013 did $39.5 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
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Since 1974
11 federal disaster and emergency declarations have covered Knox County, 5 of them for flooding. FEMA
Knox County beside its neighbors
Of the six counties that border Knox County, one scores higher. Of the group, Knox County gets the largest share of its income from benefit checks (33.9%).
| County | Score | Poverty | Benefit checks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Peoria County, IL | 69 | 15.3% | 21.0% |
| Knox County, IL | 62 | 15.7% | 33.9% |
| Stark County, IL | 55 | 10.5% | 25.0% |
| Fulton County, IL | 41 | 14.0% | 30.7% |
| Warren County, IL | 30 | 14.0% | 24.4% |
| Henry County, IL | 18 | 9.4% | 21.7% |
| Mercer County, IL | 14 | 9.1% | 24.4% |
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 Knox County the poorest county in Illinois?
No, Knox County's poverty rate was 15.7% in 2024, 14th 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, Knox County ranks 15th of 102 in the state.
If you're behind on your mortgage in Knox 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.
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 Knox County comes from, 2024.
- History The agencies named in each row and the linked records above.