Boone County, Arkansas

County Distress Index: Elevated · 52.1 | 38,530 people · 65th most distressed in Arkansas
American Default Research

Behind on your mortgage or facing eviction? Take a 2-minute assessment to see your options.

Boone County, AR registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 52.1 — 1448th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Consumer Credit Distress, where debt and delinquency levels sit above the national average. Within Arkansas, it ranks 65th of 75 counties. Among its 5 neighboring counties, 3 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Boone County's primary driver is Consumer Credit Distress at 60.4 — above the national median.

Consumer Credit Distress Primary driver 60.4
Debt in Collections 66
Medical Debt 72
Auto Loan Delinquency 41
Credit Card Delinquency 75
Uninsured Rate 48
Subprime Credit Population 56
Structural Poverty 58.2
Unemployment Rate 58
Poverty Rate 61
Income vs. State Median 26
Child Poverty Rate 55
Disability Rate 81
Transfer Income Dependency 75
Legal Distress 44.9
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 45
Housing Cost Burden 41.3
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 36
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 34
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 40
Homeownership Rate 69
Economic Vitality 31.9
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 19
Rent-to-Income Ratio 26
Business Formation Rate 52
House Price Change (YoY) 74

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Boone County
Boone County, AR 52.1 Elevated —
Taney County, MO 63.4 Elevated +11.4
Carroll County, AR 53.0 Elevated +0.9
Marion County, AR 47.6 Normal -4.5
Newton County, AR 44.7 Normal -7.3
Searcy County, AR 43.8 Normal -8.3

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Boone County
Rush County, IN 52.0 Elevated -0.0
Washington County, TX 52.0 Elevated -0.0
Jefferson County, IN 52.1 Elevated +0.0
Leon County, TX 52.1 Elevated +0.1
Breckinridge County, KY 52.0 Elevated -0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Boone County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Boone County.

NORTHWEST REGIONAL HOUSING AUTHORITY
Harrison
870-743-6779 Website
Mortgage HelpFinancial CounselingFinancial CounselingFair Housing

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 Boone 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 →

Continue Reading

Frequently Asked Questions

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

    Boone County has a County Distress Index score of 52.1 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 1,448th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 65th in Arkansas out of 75 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Boone County?

    The primary driver of distress in Boone County is Consumer Credit Distress, where the county scores 60.4 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Debt in Collections, Medical Debt, Auto Loan Delinquency.

  • How does Boone County compare to neighboring counties?

    Boone County (52.1) can be compared to its 5 neighboring counties: Taney County, MO (63.4); Carroll County, AR (53.0); Marion County, AR (47.6).

  • 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 Elevated 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). Boone County's score of 52.1 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Boone 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 Boone County?

    Boone County, Arkansas has a population of approximately 38,530 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.