Benton County, Arkansas

County Distress Index: Healthy · 34.2 | 311,013 people · 75th most distressed in Arkansas
American Default Research

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Benton County, AR ranks among the least distressed counties in the country at 34.2 — 2515th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Legal Distress, where bankruptcy filings are moderately elevated. Within Arkansas, it ranks 75th of 75 counties. It scores lower than all 7 of its neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Benton County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 51.3 — above the national median.

Legal Distress Primary driver 51.3
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 51
Consumer Credit Distress 44.8
Debt in Collections 39
Medical Debt 48
Auto Loan Delinquency 45
Credit Card Delinquency 40
Uninsured Rate 63
Subprime Credit Population 46
Housing Cost Burden 31.0
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 22
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 17
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 38
Homeownership Rate 79
Economic Vitality 14.0
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 7
Rent-to-Income Ratio 15
Business Formation Rate 19
House Price Change (YoY) 37
Structural Poverty 6.8
Unemployment Rate 27
Poverty Rate 6
Income vs. State Median 1
Child Poverty Rate 8
Disability Rate 6
Transfer Income Dependency 1

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Benton County
Benton County, AR 34.2 Healthy —
Adair County, OK 74.9 Serious +40.7
Delaware County, OK 68.3 Serious +34.1
McDonald County, MO 55.8 Elevated +21.6
Washington County, AR 53.8 Elevated +19.6
Carroll County, AR 53.0 Elevated +18.8
Barry County, MO 49.3 Normal +15.1
Madison County, AR 48.6 Normal +14.4

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Benton County
Howard County, MD 34.2 Healthy +0.0
Boulder County, CO 34.0 Healthy -0.1
Somerset County, NJ 33.7 Healthy -0.5
Bucks County, PA 34.7 Healthy +0.5
Dane County, WI 35.0 Healthy +0.8

Download Data

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

Find Help in Benton County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Benton County.

CREDIT COUNSELING OF ARKANSAS - BENTONVILLE
Bentonville
479-521-8877 Website
Foreclosure PreventionFinancial CounselingPre-PurchaseReverse Mortgage

See all counselors in Arkansas →

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 Benton 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 Benton County, Arkansas?

    Benton County has a County Distress Index score of 34.2 out of 100, placing it in the Healthy zone. It ranks 2,515th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 75th in Arkansas out of 75 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Benton County?

    The primary driver of distress in Benton County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 51.3 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Benton County compare to neighboring counties?

    Benton County (34.2) can be compared to its 7 neighboring counties: Adair County, OK (74.9); Delaware County, OK (68.3); McDonald County, MO (55.8).

  • 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 Healthy 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). Benton County's score of 34.2 sits in the Healthy zone (below 46).

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

    Benton 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 Benton County?

    Benton County, Arkansas has a population of approximately 311,013 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a large county.