Unemployment in Vermilion County, Illinois, is higher than in 89% of U.S. counties
In Vermilion County, 5.6% of the labor force was out of work, on average. That is higher than in 89% of U.S. counties.
More distressed than 73% of U.S. counties.
What drives Vermilion County's score
In Vermilion County, jobs weigh most: the score for jobs is 80.1. Late payments on loans come next, at 73.7.
The County Distress Index looks at five parts of household money trouble in Vermilion 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.
Vermilion County does better than most counties on two measures: people without health insurance (4.9%, 2020 to 2024) and rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income (18.5%, fiscal year 2027).
A longer bar means more trouble. See how the county score works.
- 80.1 of 100
Jobs
Biggest factorUnemployment through Sep 2026; adults not working, 2020–24 Census survey
- Unemployment rate, average over the latest year5.6% · Oct 2025 to Sep 202689th percentile
- Adults 25 to 54 not working24.3% · 2020 to 202470th percentile
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- 73.7 of 100
Late payments
Credit records, August 2025; credit scores, second quarter of 2026
- People with a credit card behind6.8% · August 202570th percentile
- People with a car or retail loan behind7.2% · August 202576th percentile
- People with a subprime credit score47.9% · second quarter of 202674th percentile
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- 64.9 of 100
Collections and bankruptcy
Credit records, August 2025; bankruptcy filings, 2025
- People with unpaid debt sent to a collector30.0% · August 202573rd percentile
- Bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people139.6 · 202555th percentile
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- 56.5 of 100
Income and safety net
Poverty and income, 2024; disability and insurance, 2020–24 Census survey
- People below the poverty line17.3% · 202477th percentile
- Children below the poverty line26.8% · 202486th percentile
- People with a disability14.7% · 2020 to 202437th percentile
- People without health insurance4.9% · 2020 to 202417th percentile
- Median household income (lower income, longer bar)$62,150 · 202463rd percentile
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- 44.6 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 rent20.2% · 2020 to 202462nd percentile
- Rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income18.5% · fiscal year 202726th 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 Vermilion 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 Vermilion County, 20.3% of residents are 65 or older (Census Bureau, 2024), against 17.2% nationally that year.
Cents of every dollar of income, 2024
Vermilion County
Illinois
United States
- Pay from work
- Investments and rent
- Benefit checks
In Vermilion County, benefit checks' share of income has more than tripled since 1969, reaching 30.9% in 2024, but pay from work still brings in twice as much as benefit checks
In Vermilion County, Illinois, benefit checks' share of income more than tripled from 1969 to 2024, reaching 30.9%; pay from work is plotted alongside. Every fifth year and 2024 are shown.
- Benefit checks
- Pay from work
SNAP food aid is one of the benefit checks counted in the income totals above.
The share of households in Vermilion County getting SNAP food aid rose by more than half to 19.5%, the highest on the chart
Biggest rise: 2022 to 2023, reaching 19.2%. Households getting SNAP, every year; each bar is a five-year survey estimate ending that year, so neighboring bars share most of their data, Vermilion County, Illinois.
How Vermilion County has changed
Vermilion County's population had its largest drop, from 96,928 in 1979 to 92,141 in 1984.
Vermilion County's population fell by about a quarter to 71,106, the lowest on the chart
High on the chart: 97,719 in 1974. Residents, yearly estimate, every fifth year and 2024, Vermilion County, Illinois.
The number of jobs located in Vermilion County had its largest drop, from 30,730 in 2005 to 27,706 in 2010.
The number of jobs located in Vermilion County fell by about a fifth from 1990 to 2025, reaching 25,378
High on the chart: 32,605 in 1995. Yearly average of jobs covered by unemployment insurance, every fifth year and 2025, Vermilion County, Illinois.
| Measure | Then | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rateBLS LAUS | 1990 8.8% | 2025 5.6% |
| People below the poverty lineCensus SAIPE | 1989 13.2% | 2024 17.3% |
| Median household incomeCensus SAIPE | 1989 $24,548 | 2024 $62,150 |
Figures are as each agency published them, not adjusted for prices.
Dated events in Vermilion County's history
1826
Created on January 18, 1826, from a portion of Edgar County. Champaign and Iroquois counties were formed from part of the unorganized territory in 1833. Ford County was created from the remainder in 1859, the last Illinois county to be formed. Wikipedia
1953
A tornado in April 1953 did $25 million in property damage and killed one person. NOAA Storm Events Database
1970
The county's largest recorded population was the 1970 Census count of 97,047. The 2020 Census counted 74,188, 76% of the peak. Census Bureau
2000
Hail in May 2000 did $4 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2001
A thunderstorm in July 2001 did $8.5 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2013
A tornado in November 2013 did $9.5 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
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Since 1968
12 federal disaster and emergency declarations have covered Vermilion County, 5 of them for flooding. FEMA
Vermilion County beside its neighbors
Vermilion County scores higher than all seven counties that border it, in Illinois and Indiana. For the share of income from benefit checks, Vermilion County ranks 2nd of the eight; Vermillion County is highest, at 33.1%.
| County | Score | Poverty | Benefit checks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vermilion County, IL | 73 | 17.3% | 30.9% |
| Vermillion County, IN | 62 | 13.3% | 33.1% |
| Benton County, IN | 52 | 9.8% | 24.6% |
| Champaign County, IL | 42 | 18.8% | 15.5% |
| Edgar County, IL | 40 | 13.0% | 30.1% |
| Ford County, IL | 27 | 9.3% | 20.6% |
| Iroquois County, IL | 26 | 10.4% | 27.7% |
| Warren County, IN | 11 | 8.4% | 22.9% |
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 Vermilion County the poorest county in Illinois?
No, Vermilion County's poverty rate was 17.3% in 2024, 9th 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, Vermilion County ranks 7th of 102 in the state.
If you're behind on your mortgage in Vermilion 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 Vermilion 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 Vermilion County comes from, 2024.
- History The agencies named in each row and the linked records above.