Calhoun County, Arkansas

County Distress Index: Normal · 46.0 | 4,641 people · 72nd most distressed in Arkansas
American Default Research

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

Calhoun County, AR falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 46.0 — 1844th 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 72nd of 75 counties. It scores lower than all 5 of its neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Calhoun County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 91.2 — worse than roughly 91% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 91.2
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 91
Structural Poverty 57.5
Unemployment Rate 67
Poverty Rate 56
Income vs. State Median 22
Child Poverty Rate 50
Disability Rate 95
Transfer Income Dependency 67
Consumer Credit Distress 56.2
Debt in Collections 83
Medical Debt 94
Auto Loan Delinquency 5
Credit Card Delinquency 29
Uninsured Rate 61
Subprime Credit Population 67
Economic Vitality 36.3
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 5
Rent-to-Income Ratio 50
Business Formation Rate 86
House Price Change (YoY) 59
Housing Cost Burden 6.1
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 5
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 7
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 8
Homeownership Rate 5

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Calhoun County
Calhoun County, AR 46.0 Normal —
Bradley County, AR 72.4 Serious +26.4
Dallas County, AR 72.3 Serious +26.3
Union County, AR 70.7 Serious +24.7
Ouachita County, AR 66.8 Serious +20.8
Cleveland County, AR 63.5 Elevated +17.5

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Calhoun County
Chautauqua County, KS 46.0 Normal -0.0
Buffalo County, SD 46.0 Normal +0.0
Lucas County, IA 46.0 Normal -0.0
Sutton County, TX 46.1 Normal +0.1
Iron County, WI 46.1 Normal +0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Calhoun 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 Calhoun 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 Calhoun County, Arkansas?

    Calhoun County has a County Distress Index score of 46.0 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 1,844th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 72nd in Arkansas out of 75 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Calhoun County?

    The primary driver of distress in Calhoun County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 91.2 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Calhoun County compare to neighboring counties?

    Calhoun County (46.0) can be compared to its 5 neighboring counties: Bradley County, AR (72.4); Dallas County, AR (72.3); Union County, AR (70.7).

  • 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 Normal 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). Calhoun County's score of 46.0 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Calhoun 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 Calhoun County?

    Calhoun County, Arkansas has a population of approximately 4,641 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a tiny county.