Whiteside County, Illinois

County Distress Index: Normal · 44.3 | 54,498 people · 55th most distressed in Illinois
American Default Research

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Whiteside County, IL falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 44.3 — 2052nd nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Employment & Wages, where employment and wage conditions show moderate stress. Within Illinois, it ranks 55th of 102 counties. Among its 7 neighboring counties, 4 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five domains of financial distress. Whiteside County's primary driver is Employment & Wages at 63.3 — above the national median.

Employment & Wages Primary driver 63.3
Unemployment Rate 86
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 10
Business Formation Rate 95
Housing Cost Burden 43.7
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 71
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 40
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 57
Homeownership Rate 44
Rent-to-Income Ratio 6
Debt & Delinquency 43.0
Debt in Collections 36
Medical Debt 7
Student Loan Delinquency 49
Auto Loan Delinquency 53
Credit Card Delinquency 54
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 60
Income & Poverty 37.0
Poverty Rate 32
Income vs. State Median 40
Child Poverty Rate 39
Community Vulnerability 34.4
Uninsured Rate 24
Disability Rate 45

Scores are percentile-based: 50 = national median, higher = more distressed. The median line is shown on each bar.

Neighbors and Peers

How Whiteside County compares to its 7 neighboring counties and population peers.

Neighboring Counties

County Score Zone vs. Whiteside County
Whiteside County, IL 44.3 Normal —
Rock Island County, IL 54.2 Elevated +9.9
Clinton County, IA 46.9 Normal +2.6
Carroll County, IL 44.3 Normal +0.0
Bureau County, IL 42.6 Normal -1.6
Lee County, IL 38.8 Normal -5.5
Ogle County, IL 37.6 Normal -6.6
Henry County, IL 35.4 Normal -8.8

Population Peers

County Score Zone vs. Whiteside County
Racine County, WI 44.3 Normal +0.0
Stanly County, NC 44.3 Normal +0.0
Monroe County, MI 44.2 Normal -0.1
Sandoval County, NM 44.2 Normal -0.1
Beaver County, PA 44.2 Normal -0.1

Download Data

Export all distress indicators for Whiteside County as a CSV file.

Find Help in Whiteside County

Find an Attorney

Illinois State Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service offers a lawyer referral service for bankruptcy, foreclosure defense, and consumer rights.

Illinois State Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service 1-800-922-8757

Free Legal Aid

Legal aid organizations serving Whiteside County residents at no cost.

Illinois Legal Aid Online (ILAO)
Legal Aid Chicago (formerly LAF) 312-341-1070
Land of Lincoln Legal Aid 217-525-7151
Prairie State Legal Services 1-800-531-7057
Illinois State Bar Association Lawyer Referral 1-800-922-8757

Self-Help Resources

Illinois Legal Aid Online — Foreclosure Comprehensive self-help guides for Illinois foreclosure
IHDA Homeowner Resources Assistance programs and housing counselor referrals

American Default Research does not endorse, rate, or rank any provider. Verify attorney credentials with your state bar.

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the distress score for Whiteside County, Illinois?

    Whiteside County has a County Distress Index score of 44.3 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 2,052nd nationally out of 3,144 counties and 55th in Illinois out of 102 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Whiteside County?

    The primary driver of distress in Whiteside County is Employment & Wages, where the county scores 63.3 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Unemployment Rate, Wage-to-Rent Ratio, Business Formation Rate.

  • How does Whiteside County compare to neighboring counties?

    Whiteside County (44.3) can be compared to its 7 neighboring counties: Rock Island County, IL (54.2); Clinton County, IA (46.9); Carroll County, IL (44.3).

  • How is the County Distress Index calculated?

    The County Distress Index uses percentile-rank averaging across five domains: Debt & Delinquency, Income & Poverty, Housing Cost Burden, Employment & Wages, and Community Vulnerability. Each county's indicators are ranked against all 3,144 U.S. counties. A score of 50 means the county is at the national median; higher scores indicate greater distress.

  • What is the population of Whiteside County?

    Whiteside County, Illinois has a population of approximately 54,498 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.