Nearly 10,300 more McHenry County residents now live in poverty than four years ago, a “creeping poverty” trend that many local and statewide experts say is widespread among the Chicago suburbs.

The economic downturn, escalating costs of living, sluggish wages and job loss have pounded many living and working in Chicago’s more affluent collar counties, including McHenry, Lake, DuPage, Kane and Will.

According to the Social IMPACT Research Center – a division of the Heartland Alliance that releases an annual statewide report on poverty – living below the poverty line is defined by an income of $11,484 for an individual; $14,657 for a family of two; $17,916 for a family of three; and $23,021 for a family of four.