In Wayne County, Illinois, rent on a two-bedroom takes about one in six dollars of the typical household's income
In Wayne County, 18.1% of the typical household's income would go to rent on a two-bedroom. That is lower than in 77% of U.S. counties.
Less distressed than 58% of U.S. counties.
What drives Wayne County's score
In Wayne County, jobs are the highest-scoring part, at 64.6. Late payments on loans are the lowest part, at 28.2. People with a car or retail loan behind: 0.6%, August 2025, lower than in 95% of U.S. counties.
The County Distress Index looks at five parts of household money trouble in Wayne 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.
Even so, Wayne County is worse off than most counties on unemployment rate, average over the latest year (5.0%, Oct 2025 to Sep 2026) and people without health insurance (12.1%, 2020 to 2024).
A longer bar means more trouble. See how the county score works.
- 64.6 of 100
Jobs
Biggest factorUnemployment through Sep 2026; adults not working, 2020–24 Census survey
- Unemployment rate, average over the latest year5.0% · Oct 2025 to Sep 202681st percentile
- Adults 25 to 54 not working20.4% · 2020 to 202448th percentile
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- 63.8 of 100
Income and safety net
Poverty and income, 2024; disability and insurance, 2020–24 Census survey
- People below the poverty line14.3% · 202459th percentile
- Children below the poverty line18.2% · 202456th percentile
- People with a disability17.0% · 2020 to 202459th percentile
- People without health insurance12.1% · 2020 to 202479th percentile
- Median household income (lower income, longer bar)$61,720 · 202465th percentile
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- 35.0 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 rent17.7% · 2020 to 202447th percentile
- Rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income18.1% · fiscal year 202722nd percentile
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- 34.2 of 100
Collections and bankruptcy
Credit records, August 2025; bankruptcy filings, 2025
- People with unpaid debt sent to a collector18.2% · August 202531st percentile
- Bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people101.5 · 202536th percentile
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- 28.2 of 100
Late payments
Credit records, August 2025; credit scores, second quarter of 2026
- People with a credit card behind4.6% · August 202534th percentile
- People with a car or retail loan behind0.6% · August 20255th or lower percentile
- People with a subprime credit score39.0% · second quarter of 202645th 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 Wayne 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 Wayne County, 22.0% of residents are 65 or older (Census Bureau, 2024), against 17.2% nationally that year.
Cents of every dollar of income, 2024
Wayne County
Illinois
United States
- Pay from work
- Investments and rent
- Benefit checks
In Wayne County, benefit checks' share of income has tripled since 1969, reaching 28.8% in 2024, but pay from work still brings in twice as much as benefit checks
In Wayne County, Illinois, benefit checks' share of income tripled from 1969 to 2024, reaching 28.8%; pay from work is plotted alongside. Every fifth year and 2024 are shown.
- Benefit checks
- Pay from work
The share of households in Wayne County getting SNAP food aid had its largest drop, from 14.0% in 2019 to 12.2% in 2020.
The share of households in Wayne County getting SNAP food aid fell to its lowest on the chart in 2010, then climbed past the 2009 level
Low on the chart: 10.7% 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, Wayne County, Illinois.
How Wayne County has changed
Wayne County's population fell 8% from 1969 to 2024, reaching its lowest on the chart, with most of the change between 1984 and 1989
High on the chart: 18,612 in 1984. Residents, yearly estimate, every fifth year and 2024, Wayne County, Illinois.
The number of jobs located in Wayne County had its largest rise, from 4,041 in 1990 to 4,726 in 1995.
The number of jobs located in Wayne County was at its highest on the chart in 1995 and is down 16% since
High on the chart: 4,726 in 1995. Yearly average of jobs covered by unemployment insurance, every fifth year and 2025, Wayne County, Illinois.
| Measure | Then | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rateBLS LAUS | 1990 9.4% | 2025 4.2% |
| People below the poverty lineCensus SAIPE | 1989 12.9% | 2024 14.3% |
| Median household incomeCensus SAIPE | 1989 $21,469 | 2024 $61,720 |
The table uses 4.2% for 2025; the score uses 5.0% 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 Wayne County's history
1819
Formed in 1819 out of Edwards County. Wikipedia
1900
The county's largest recorded population was the 1900 Census count of 27,626. The 2020 Census counted 16,179, 59% of the peak. Census Bureau
1989
A tornado in January 1989 did $2.5 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
1990
A tornado in June 1990 did $2.5 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2002
A tornado in April 2002 did $4 million in property damage and killed one person. NOAA Storm Events Database
2013
A flood in December 2013 killed one person. NOAA Storm Events Database
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Since 1989
8 federal disaster and emergency declarations have covered Wayne County, 3 of them for flooding. FEMA
Wayne County beside its neighbors
Of the seven counties that border Wayne County, three score higher. For the share of income from benefit checks, Wayne County ranks 6th of the eight; Marion County is highest, at 36.0%.
| County | Score | Poverty | Benefit checks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jefferson County, IL | 65 | 12.9% | 30.9% |
| Marion County, IL | 63 | 14.4% | 36.0% |
| White County, IL | 46 | 14.2% | 28.5% |
| Wayne County, IL | 41 | 14.3% | 28.8% |
| Clay County, IL | 33 | 14.0% | 33.9% |
| Hamilton County, IL | 33 | 10.5% | 29.8% |
| Richland County, IL | 28 | 13.0% | 28.9% |
| Edwards County, IL | 23 | 11.1% | 26.7% |
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 Wayne County the poorest county in Illinois?
No, Wayne County's poverty rate was 14.3% in 2024, 28th 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, Wayne County ranks 37th of 102 in the state.
If you're behind on your mortgage in Wayne 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.
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 Wayne County comes from, 2024.
- History The agencies named in each row and the linked records above.