Arkansas County, Arkansas

County Distress Index: Serious · 67.9 | 16,307 people · 33rd most distressed in Arkansas
American Default Research

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Arkansas County, AR shows significant household financial distress with a score of 67.9 — 498th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Legal Distress, where bankruptcy filing rates are well above the national average. Within Arkansas, it ranks 33rd of 75 counties. Among its 7 neighboring counties, 4 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Arkansas County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 95.0 — worse than roughly 95% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 95.0
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 95
Consumer Credit Distress 77.4
Debt in Collections 83
Medical Debt 44
Auto Loan Delinquency 95
Credit Card Delinquency 94
Uninsured Rate 37
Subprime Credit Population 81
Structural Poverty 64.7
Unemployment Rate 82
Poverty Rate 72
Income vs. State Median 52
Child Poverty Rate 74
Disability Rate 80
Transfer Income Dependency 47
Housing Cost Burden 52.1
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 38
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 62
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 28
Homeownership Rate 79
Economic Vitality 40.5
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 14
Rent-to-Income Ratio 59
Business Formation Rate 55
House Price Change (YoY) 95

Scores are percentile-based: 50 = national median, higher = more distressed.

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Arkansas County
Arkansas County, AR 67.9 Serious —
Phillips County, AR 85.5 Crisis +17.6
Desha County, AR 79.8 Serious +11.9
Jefferson County, AR 77.0 Serious +9.1
Monroe County, AR 74.6 Serious +6.7
Lincoln County, AR 56.1 Elevated -11.8
Lonoke County, AR 56.1 Elevated -11.8
Prairie County, AR 50.5 Elevated -17.4

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Arkansas County
Montague County, TX 67.9 Serious 0.0
Jackson County, KY 67.9 Serious -0.0
Pittsburg County, OK 67.9 Serious +0.0
Adams County, OH 67.9 Serious -0.0
Fayette County, IN 67.8 Serious -0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Arkansas County

Find an Attorney

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

Arkansas Bar Association Lawyer Referral 1-800-609-5668

Free Legal Aid

Legal aid organizations serving Arkansas County residents at no cost.

Legal Aid of Arkansas 1-800-950-5817
Center for Arkansas Legal Services 1-800-950-5817

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

Need legal help? Find a foreclosure defense attorney in Arkansas →

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the distress score for Arkansas County, Arkansas?

    Arkansas County has a County Distress Index score of 67.9 out of 100, placing it in the Serious zone. It ranks 498th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 33rd in Arkansas out of 75 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Arkansas County?

    The primary driver of distress in Arkansas County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 95.0 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Arkansas County compare to neighboring counties?

    Arkansas County (67.9) can be compared to its 7 neighboring counties: Phillips County, AR (85.5); Desha County, AR (79.8); Jefferson County, AR (77.0).

  • How is the County Distress Index calculated?

    The County Distress Index uses PCA-weighted percentile scoring across five statistically derived factors: Consumer Credit Distress (47.5%), Housing Cost Burden (22.3%), Structural Poverty (13.6%), Economic Vitality (9.2%), and Legal Distress (7.4%). 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.

  • How often is the CDI updated?

    Annually, aligned to Census American Community Survey and Urban Institute Debt in America release windows — the slowest-moving source inputs. Between annual refreshes, faster-cadence indicators (BLS unemployment, QCEW wages) may drive light mid-year updates if a specific component moves meaningfully. Current data compiled April 14, 2026; next full refresh early 2027.

  • What does the Serious zone mean?

    The CDI divides counties into five zones: Healthy (below 46), Normal (46–55), Elevated (55–71), Serious (71–86), and Crisis (86 and above). Arkansas County's score of 67.9 sits in the Serious zone (71–86).

  • What data sources power Arkansas County's CDI score?

    Arkansas County's CDI score draws on Urban Institute Debt in America (Equifax credit-bureau panel), U.S. Census Bureau (American Community Survey 5-year, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates), Bureau of Labor Statistics (LAUS, QCEW), U.S. Courts Administrative Office (F-5A bankruptcy filings), and HUD Fair Market Rents. Every number on this page traces to one of these public sources.

  • What is the population of Arkansas County?

    Arkansas County, Arkansas has a population of approximately 16,307 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.