In Washington County, Illinois, rent on a two-bedroom takes about one in seven dollars of the typical household's income
In Washington County, 13.7% of the typical household's income would go to rent on a two-bedroom. That is lower than in 99% of U.S. counties.
Less distressed than 95% of U.S. counties.
What drives Washington County's score
In Washington County, collections and bankruptcy is the highest-scoring part, at 27.6. Housing costs are the lowest part, at 8.2.
The County Distress Index looks at five parts of household money trouble in Washington 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.
Washington 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.
- 27.6 of 100
Collections and bankruptcy
Biggest factorCredit records, August 2025; bankruptcy filings, 2025
- People with unpaid debt sent to a collector14.7% · August 202517th percentile
- Bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people103.4 · 202537th percentile
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- 26.5 of 100
Jobs
Unemployment through Sep 2026; adults not working, 2020–24 Census survey
- Unemployment rate, average over the latest year3.5% · Oct 2025 to Sep 202631st percentile
- Adults 25 to 54 not working16.0% · 2020 to 202421st percentile
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- 23.3 of 100
Late payments
Credit records, August 2025; credit scores, second quarter of 2026
- People with a credit card behind1.9% · August 20255th or lower percentile
- People with a car or retail loan behind4.7% · August 202542nd percentile
- People with a subprime credit score33.0% · second quarter of 202622nd percentile
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- 12.4 of 100
Income and safety net
Poverty and income, 2024; disability and insurance, 2020–24 Census survey
- People below the poverty line7.3% · 20245th percentile
- Children below the poverty line7.8% · 20245th percentile
- People with a disability13.7% · 2020 to 202428th percentile
- People without health insurance3.4% · 2020 to 20245th or lower percentile
- Median household income (lower income, longer bar)$81,555 · 202418th percentile
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- 8.2 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 rent9.7% · 2020 to 202411th percentile
- Rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income13.7% · fiscal year 20275th or lower 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 Washington 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 Washington County, 21.6% of residents are 65 or older (Census Bureau, 2024), against 17.2% nationally that year.
Cents of every dollar of income, 2024
Washington County
Illinois
United States
- Pay from work
- Investments and rent
- Benefit checks
In Washington County, benefit checks' share of income has doubled since 1969, reaching 23.1% in 2024, but pay from work still brings in more than twice as much as benefit checks
In Washington County, Illinois, benefit checks' share of income doubled from 1969 to 2024, reaching 23.1%; pay from work is plotted alongside. Every fifth year and 2024 are shown.
- Benefit checks
- Pay from work
The share of households in Washington County getting SNAP food aid had its largest rise, from 6.4% in 2013 to 7.6% in 2014.
The share of households in Washington County getting SNAP food aid was at its highest on the chart in 2020 and has since fallen to 9.5%
Low on the chart: 5.3% 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, Washington County, Illinois.
How Washington County has changed
Washington County's population had its largest rise, from 13,802 in 1969 to 14,462 in 1974.
Washington County's population was at its highest on the chart in 1984 and is down 11% since
High on the chart: 15,219 in 1984. Residents, yearly estimate, every fifth year and 2024, Washington County, Illinois.
The jobs count covers work located in the county; the population count covers residents.
The number of jobs located in Washington County rose by about half to 6,218, the highest on the chart
Biggest rise: 2010 to 2015, reaching 5,967. Yearly average of jobs covered by unemployment insurance, every fifth year and 2025, Washington County, Illinois.
| Measure | Then | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rateBLS LAUS | 1990 6.7% | 2025 3.4% |
| People below the poverty lineCensus SAIPE | 1989 7.9% | 2024 7.3% |
| Median household incomeCensus SAIPE | 1989 $26,338 | 2024 $81,555 |
The table uses 3.4% for 2025; the score uses 3.5% 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 Washington County's history
1818
Formed on January 2, 1818, out of St. Clair County. Wikipedia
1900
The county's largest recorded population was the 1900 Census count of 19,526. The 2020 Census counted 13,761, 70% of the peak. Census Bureau
2012
Lightning in July 2012 killed one person. NOAA Storm Events Database
2013
A tornado in November 2013 killed two people. NOAA Storm Events Database
2014
Lightning in August 2014 did $1 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
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Since 2002
9 federal disaster and emergency declarations have covered Washington County, 4 of them for flooding. FEMA
Washington County beside its neighbors
All six counties that border Washington County score higher than it does. For the share of income from benefit checks, Washington County ranks 6th of the seven; Marion County is highest, at 36.0%.
| County | Score | Poverty | Benefit checks |
|---|---|---|---|
| St. Clair County, IL | 67 | 12.7% | 25.9% |
| Jefferson County, IL | 65 | 12.9% | 30.9% |
| Marion County, IL | 63 | 14.4% | 36.0% |
| Perry County, IL | 42 | 15.2% | 29.0% |
| Randolph County, IL | 40 | 14.7% | 30.3% |
| Clinton County, IL | 5 | 8.0% | 21.2% |
| Washington County, IL | 4 | 7.3% | 23.1% |
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 Washington County the poorest county in Illinois?
No, Washington County's poverty rate was 7.3% in 2024, 94th 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, Washington County ranks 101st of 102 in the state.
If you're behind on your mortgage in Washington 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 Washington 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 Washington County comes from, 2024.
- History The agencies named in each row and the linked records above.