In White County, Illinois, rent on a two-bedroom takes about one in six dollars of the typical household's income
In White County, 18.3% of the typical household's income would go to rent on a two-bedroom. That is lower than in 75% of U.S. counties.
Less distressed than 53% of U.S. counties.
What drives White County's score
In White County, jobs are the highest-scoring part, at 66.3. Housing costs are the lowest part, at 30.9.
The County Distress Index looks at five parts of household money trouble in White 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, White County is worse off than most counties on people with a disability (21.6%, 2020 to 2024) and unemployment rate, average over the latest year (4.8%, Oct 2025 to Sep 2026).
A longer bar means more trouble. See how the county score works.
- 66.3 of 100
Jobs
Biggest factorUnemployment through Sep 2026; adults not working, 2020–24 Census survey
- Unemployment rate, average over the latest year4.8% · Oct 2025 to Sep 202678th percentile
- Adults 25 to 54 not working21.4% · 2020 to 202453rd percentile
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- 57.3 of 100
Income and safety net
Poverty and income, 2024; disability and insurance, 2020–24 Census survey
- People below the poverty line14.2% · 202458th percentile
- Children below the poverty line18.0% · 202454th percentile
- People with a disability21.6% · 2020 to 202487th percentile
- People without health insurance4.9% · 2020 to 202417th percentile
- Median household income (lower income, longer bar)$60,953 · 202468th percentile
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- 48.8 of 100
Late payments
Credit records, August 2025; credit scores, second quarter of 2026
- People with a credit card behind5.7% · August 202554th percentile
- People with a car or retail loan behind3.6% · August 202526th percentile
- People with a subprime credit score44.6% · second quarter of 202665th percentile
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- 37.0 of 100
Collections and bankruptcy
Credit records, August 2025; bankruptcy filings, 2025
- People with unpaid debt sent to a collector22.5% · August 202547th percentile
- Bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people82.1 · 202526th percentile
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- 30.9 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 rent16.0% · 2020 to 202436th percentile
- Rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income18.3% · fiscal year 202724th 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 White 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 White County, 23.4% of residents are 65 or older (Census Bureau, 2024), against 17.2% nationally that year.
Cents of every dollar of income, 2024
White County
Illinois
United States
- Pay from work
- Investments and rent
- Benefit checks
In White County, benefit checks' share of income has more than doubled since 1969, reaching 28.5% in 2024, but pay from work still brings in twice as much as benefit checks
In White County, Illinois, benefit checks' share of income more than doubled from 1969 to 2024, reaching 28.5%; 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 White County getting SNAP food aid rose by about half from 2009 to 2024, reaching 18.7%, with most of the change between 2022 and 2023
High on the chart: 19.1% in 2023. Households getting SNAP, every year; each bar is a five-year survey estimate ending that year, so neighboring bars share most of their data, White County, Illinois.
How White County has changed
White County's population fell most sharply after its 1984 high, from 18,086 in 1984 to 16,673 in 1989.
White County's population fell by about a quarter to 13,395, the lowest on the chart
High on the chart: 18,086 in 1984. Residents, yearly estimate, every fifth year and 2024, White County, Illinois.
The number of jobs located in White County fell most sharply on the way to its 2020 low, from 4,388 in 2015 to 3,809 in 2020.
The number of jobs located in White County was at its highest on the chart in 2005 and is down 16% since
High on the chart: 4,840 in 2005. Yearly average of jobs covered by unemployment insurance, every fifth year and 2025, White County, Illinois.
| Measure | Then | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rateBLS LAUS | 1990 8.9% | 2025 4.6% |
| People below the poverty lineCensus SAIPE | 1989 13.0% | 2024 14.2% |
| Median household incomeCensus SAIPE | 1989 $22,513 | 2024 $60,953 |
The table uses 4.6% for 2025; the score uses 4.8% 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 White County's history
1900
The county's largest recorded population was the 1900 Census count of 25,386. The 2020 Census counted 13,877, 55% of the peak. Census Bureau
1925
Tri-State Tornado of 1925 caused significant damage to rural areas. Wikipedia
1939
Oil discovered in Storms and Stinson fields in 1939. Wikipedia
1989
A tornado in January 1989 did $2.5 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
1990
A thunderstorm in May 1990 killed one person. NOAA Storm Events Database
2011
A tornado in April 2011 did $2 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2017
A tornado in February 2017 did $2 million in property damage and killed one person. NOAA Storm Events Database
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Since 1983
10 federal disaster and emergency declarations have covered White County, 5 of them for flooding. FEMA
White County beside its neighbors
Of the seven counties that border White County, in Illinois and Indiana, two score higher. For the share of income from benefit checks, White County ranks 4th of the eight; Gallatin County is highest, at 36.3%.
| County | Score | Poverty | Benefit checks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wabash County, IL | 49 | 14.1% | 28.0% |
| Gallatin County, IL | 48 | 17.5% | 36.3% |
| White County, IL | 46 | 14.2% | 28.5% |
| Wayne County, IL | 41 | 14.3% | 28.8% |
| Hamilton County, IL | 33 | 10.5% | 29.8% |
| Edwards County, IL | 23 | 11.1% | 26.7% |
| Gibson County, IN | 21 | 10.3% | 23.8% |
| Posey County, IN | 13 | 8.6% | 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 White County the poorest county in Illinois?
No, White County's poverty rate was 14.2% in 2024, 29th 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, White County ranks 31st of 102 in the state.
If you're behind on your mortgage in White 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 White County comes from, 2024.
- History The agencies named in each row and the linked records above.