In Richland County, Illinois, rent on a two-bedroom takes about one in six dollars of the typical household's income
In Richland County, 16.4% of the typical household's income would go to rent on a two-bedroom. That is lower than in 90% of U.S. counties.
Less distressed than 71% of U.S. counties.
What drives Richland County's score
In Richland County, jobs are the highest-scoring part, at 47.4. Housing costs are the lowest part, at 17.7.
The County Distress Index looks at five parts of household money trouble in Richland 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.
Richland County isn't among the worst-off quarter of U.S. counties on any measure.
A longer bar means more trouble. See how the county score works.
- 47.4 of 100
Jobs
Biggest factorUnemployment through Sep 2026; adults not working, 2020–24 Census survey
- Unemployment rate, average over the latest year4.0% · Oct 2025 to Sep 202652nd percentile
- Adults 25 to 54 not working19.4% · 2020 to 202442nd percentile
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- 45.6 of 100
Income and safety net
Poverty and income, 2024; disability and insurance, 2020–24 Census survey
- People below the poverty line13.0% · 202448th percentile
- Children below the poverty line14.7% · 202437th percentile
- People with a disability17.6% · 2020 to 202464th percentile
- People without health insurance6.1% · 2020 to 202432nd percentile
- Median household income (lower income, longer bar)$68,273 · 202445th percentile
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- 39.7 of 100
Collections and bankruptcy
Credit records, August 2025; bankruptcy filings, 2025
- People with unpaid debt sent to a collector21.8% · August 202545th percentile
- Bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people96.8 · 202534th percentile
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- 37.6 of 100
Late payments
Credit records, August 2025; credit scores, second quarter of 2026
- People with a credit card behind4.0% · August 202524th percentile
- People with a car or retail loan behind4.5% · August 202540th percentile
- People with a subprime credit score39.7% · second quarter of 202648th percentile
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- 17.7 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 rent13.8% · 2020 to 202425th percentile
- Rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income16.4% · fiscal year 20279th 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 Richland 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 Richland County, 20.7% of residents are 65 or older (Census Bureau, 2024), against 17.2% nationally that year.
Cents of every dollar of income, 2024
Richland County
Illinois
United States
- Pay from work
- Investments and rent
- Benefit checks
In Richland County, benefit checks' share of income has tripled since 1969, reaching 28.9% in 2024, but pay from work still brings in twice as much as benefit checks
In Richland County, Illinois, benefit checks' share of income tripled from 1969 to 2024, reaching 28.9%; pay from work is plotted alongside. Every fifth year and 2024 are shown.
- Benefit checks
- Pay from work
The share of households in Richland County getting SNAP food aid had its largest rise, from 15.3% in 2020 to 17.5% in 2021.
The share of households in Richland County getting SNAP food aid was at its highest on the chart in 2021 and has since fallen to 15.7%
Low on the chart: 10.1% in 2010. Households getting SNAP, every year; each bar is a five-year survey estimate ending that year, so neighboring bars share most of their data, Richland County, Illinois.
How Richland County has changed
Richland County's population had its largest drop, from 18,243 in 1984 to 16,630 in 1989.
Richland County's population was at its highest on the chart in 1984 and is down 16% since
High on the chart: 18,243 in 1984. Residents, yearly estimate, every fifth year and 2024, Richland County, Illinois.
The number of jobs located in Richland County had its largest rise, from 6,367 in 1990 to 8,110 in 1995.
The number of jobs located in Richland County was at its highest on the chart in 1995 and is down 29% since
High on the chart: 8,110 in 1995. Yearly average of jobs covered by unemployment insurance, every fifth year and 2025, Richland County, Illinois.
| Measure | Then | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rateBLS LAUS | 1990 6.9% | 2025 3.7% |
| People below the poverty lineCensus SAIPE | 1989 11.6% | 2024 13.0% |
| Median household incomeCensus SAIPE | 1989 $22,201 | 2024 $68,273 |
The table uses 3.7% for 2025; the score uses 4.0% 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 Richland County's history
1956
A tornado in February 1956 did $2.5 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
1980
The county's largest recorded population was the 1980 Census count of 17,587. The 2020 Census counted 15,813, 90% of the peak. Census Bureau
1991
A tornado in August 1991 did $2.5 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
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Since 1990
8 federal disaster and emergency declarations have covered Richland County, 3 of them for flooding. FEMA
Richland County beside its neighbors
Of the seven counties that border Richland County, four score higher. For the share of income from benefit checks, Richland County ranks 3rd of the eight; Lawrence County is highest, at 38.5%.
| County | Score | Poverty | Benefit checks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lawrence County, IL | 52 | 14.7% | 38.5% |
| Wabash County, IL | 49 | 14.1% | 28.0% |
| Wayne County, IL | 41 | 14.3% | 28.8% |
| Clay County, IL | 33 | 14.0% | 33.9% |
| Richland County, IL | 28 | 13.0% | 28.9% |
| Crawford County, IL | 27 | 14.5% | 24.2% |
| Edwards County, IL | 23 | 11.1% | 26.7% |
| Jasper County, IL | 6 | 11.3% | 26.0% |
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 Richland County the poorest county in Illinois?
No, Richland County's poverty rate was 13.0% in 2024, 45th 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, Richland County ranks 66th of 102 in the state.
If you're behind on your mortgage in Richland 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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Erba Richland County Outreach Office
HUD-approved housing counselor
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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 Richland 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 Richland County comes from, 2024.
- History The agencies named in each row and the linked records above.