Lake County, Illinois

County Distress Index: Healthy · 34.6 | 708,760 people · 89th most distressed in Illinois
American Default Research

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Lake County, IL ranks among the least distressed counties in the country at 34.6 — 2669th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Housing Cost Burden, where a large share of households spend more than 30% of income on housing. Within Illinois, it ranks 89th of 102 counties. Among its 6 neighboring counties, 4 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five domains of financial distress. Lake County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 65.6 — above the national median.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 65.6
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 78
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 75
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 89
Homeownership Rate 50
Rent-to-Income Ratio 36
Employment & Wages 52.3
Unemployment Rate 90
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 36
Business Formation Rate 31
Debt & Delinquency 25.6
Debt in Collections 16
Medical Debt 7
Student Loan Delinquency 23
Auto Loan Delinquency 29
Credit Card Delinquency 23
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 55
Community Vulnerability 22.1
Uninsured Rate 39
Disability Rate 5
Income & Poverty 7.6
Poverty Rate 8
Income vs. State Median 2
Child Poverty Rate 12

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

Neighbors and Peers

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

Neighboring Counties

County Score Zone vs. Lake County
Lake County, IL 34.6 Healthy —
Cook County, IL 50.8 Elevated +16.1
Berrien County, MI 50.1 Elevated +15.4
Kenosha County, WI 48.3 Normal +13.6
Van Buren County, MI 48.3 Normal +13.6
McHenry County, IL 33.7 Healthy -0.9
Allegan County, MI 32.6 Healthy -2.0

Population Peers

County Score Zone vs. Lake County
Harford County, MD 34.4 Healthy -0.2
Cumberland County, PA 34.9 Healthy +0.2
Marin County, CA 34.2 Healthy -0.4
St. Johns County, FL 34.2 Healthy -0.5
Lancaster County, NE 35.2 Normal +0.6

Download Data

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

Find Help in Lake County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Lake County.

COMMUNITY PARTNERS FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING
Libertyville
847-263-7478 Website
Foreclosure PreventionFinancial CounselingFinancial CounselingPre-Purchase
LAKE COUNTY HOUSING AUTHORITY
Lake Zurich
847-223-1170 Website
Foreclosure PreventionMortgage HelpFinancial CounselingFinancial Counseling

See all counselors in Illinois →

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 Lake 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.

Need legal help? Find a foreclosure defense attorney in Illinois →

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Frequently Asked Questions

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

    Lake County has a County Distress Index score of 34.6 out of 100, placing it in the Healthy zone. It ranks 2,669th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 89th in Illinois out of 102 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Lake County?

    The primary driver of distress in Lake County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 65.6 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Lake County compare to neighboring counties?

    Lake County (34.6) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Cook County, IL (50.8); Berrien County, MI (50.1); Kenosha County, WI (48.3).

  • 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 Lake County?

    Lake County, Illinois has a population of approximately 708,760 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a large county.