In Warren County, Illinois, rent on a two-bedroom takes about one in six dollars of the typical household's income
In Warren County, 17.0% of the typical household's income would go to rent on a two-bedroom. That is lower than in 86% of U.S. counties.
Less distressed than 69% of U.S. counties.
What drives Warren County's score
In Warren County, jobs are the highest-scoring part, at 55.9. Housing costs are the lowest part, at 12.3. About one in 10 renters (9.6%, 2020 to 2024) pays half their income or more in rent, a lower share than in 88% of U.S. counties.
The County Distress Index looks at five parts of household money trouble in Warren 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.
Warren 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.
- 55.9 of 100
Jobs
Biggest factorUnemployment through Sep 2026; adults not working, 2020–24 Census survey
- Unemployment rate, average over the latest year4.4% · Oct 2025 to Sep 202665th percentile
- Adults 25 to 54 not working20.1% · 2020 to 202446th percentile
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- 46.1 of 100
Late payments
Credit records, August 2025; credit scores, second quarter of 2026
- People with a credit card behind4.6% · August 202535th percentile
- People with a car or retail loan behind5.5% · August 202554th percentile
- People with a subprime credit score39.7% · second quarter of 202648th percentile
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- 42.5 of 100
Income and safety net
Poverty and income, 2024; disability and insurance, 2020–24 Census survey
- People below the poverty line14.0% · 202456th percentile
- Children below the poverty line17.9% · 202454th percentile
- People with a disability13.8% · 2020 to 202429th percentile
- People without health insurance5.0% · 2020 to 202419th percentile
- Median household income (lower income, longer bar)$65,671 · 202453rd percentile
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- 37.4 of 100
Collections and bankruptcy
Credit records, August 2025; bankruptcy filings, 2025
- People with unpaid debt sent to a collector19.5% · August 202536th percentile
- Bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people105 · 202538th percentile
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- 12.3 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 rent9.6% · 2020 to 202411th percentile
- Rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income17.0% · fiscal year 202713th 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 Warren 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 Warren County, 20.0% of residents are 65 or older (Census Bureau, 2024), against 17.2% nationally that year.
Cents of every dollar of income, 2024
Warren County
Illinois
United States
- Pay from work
- Investments and rent
- Benefit checks
In Warren County, benefit checks' share of income has tripled since 1969, reaching 24.4% in 2024, but pay from work still brings in more than twice as much as benefit checks
In Warren County, Illinois, benefit checks' share of income tripled from 1969 to 2024, reaching 24.4%; pay from work is plotted alongside. Every fifth year and 2024 are shown.
- Benefit checks
- Pay from work
The share of households in Warren County getting SNAP food aid had its largest drop, from 11.8% in 2009 to 9.2% in 2010.
The share of households in Warren County getting SNAP food aid fell to its lowest on the chart in 2010, then climbed past the 2009 level
Low on the chart: 9.2% 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, Warren County, Illinois.
How Warren County has changed
Warren County's population had its largest drop, from 21,084 in 1984 to 19,336 in 1989.
Warren County's population fell by about a quarter to 16,217, the lowest on the chart
High on the chart: 22,014 in 1974. Residents, yearly estimate, every fifth year and 2024, Warren County, Illinois.
The jobs count covers work located in the county; the population count covers residents.
The number of jobs located in Warren County rose 8% from 1990 to 2025, reaching its highest on the chart, with most of the change between 2005 and 2010
High on the chart: 6,346 in 2025. Yearly average of jobs covered by unemployment insurance, every fifth year and 2025, Warren County, Illinois.
| Measure | Then | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rateBLS LAUS | 1990 5.7% | 2025 4.4% |
| People below the poverty lineCensus SAIPE | 1989 12.0% | 2024 14.0% |
| Median household incomeCensus SAIPE | 1989 $22,685 | 2024 $65,671 |
Figures are as each agency published them, not adjusted for prices.
Dated events in Warren County's history
1825
Created in 1825 out of Pike County, which consisted of all portions of the state north and west of the Illinois River before 1825. Wikipedia
1910
The county's largest recorded population was the 1910 Census count of 23,313. The 2020 Census counted 16,835, 72% of the peak. Census Bureau
1959
A tornado in September 1959 killed one person. NOAA Storm Events Database
2003
A flash flood in May 2003 did $1 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2003
Hail in May 2003 did $2 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2015
A tornado in July 2015 did $1,500,000 in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
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Since 1993
9 federal disaster and emergency declarations have covered Warren County, 4 of them for flooding. FEMA
Warren County beside its neighbors
Of the five counties that border Warren County, four score higher. For the share of income from benefit checks, Warren County ranks 5th of the six; Knox County is highest, at 33.9%.
| County | Score | Poverty | Benefit checks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Knox County, IL | 62 | 15.7% | 33.9% |
| McDonough County, IL | 60 | 18.6% | 26.1% |
| Henderson County, IL | 47 | 13.4% | 28.2% |
| Fulton County, IL | 41 | 14.0% | 30.7% |
| Warren County, IL | 30 | 14.0% | 24.4% |
| 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 Warren County the poorest county in Illinois?
No, Warren County's poverty rate was 14.0% in 2024, 33rd 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, Warren County ranks 62nd of 102 in the state.
If you're behind on your mortgage in Warren 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 Warren 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 Warren County comes from, 2024.
- History The agencies named in each row and the linked records above.