Carroll County, Arkansas

County Distress Index: Elevated · 53.0 | 28,814 people · 64th most distressed in Arkansas
American Default Research

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Carroll County, AR registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 53.0 — 1402nd 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 64th of 75 counties. Among its 7 neighboring counties, 6 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Carroll County's primary driver is Consumer Credit Distress at 63.6 — above the national median.

Consumer Credit Distress Primary driver 63.6
Debt in Collections 59
Medical Debt 51
Auto Loan Delinquency 69
Credit Card Delinquency 75
Uninsured Rate 83
Subprime Credit Population 56
Economic Vitality 59.6
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 73
Rent-to-Income Ratio 51
Business Formation Rate 22
House Price Change (YoY) 90
Structural Poverty 54.5
Unemployment Rate 69
Poverty Rate 60
Income vs. State Median 34
Child Poverty Rate 58
Disability Rate 45
Transfer Income Dependency 67
Housing Cost Burden 38.2
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 58
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 25
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 28
Homeownership Rate 31
Legal Distress 17.7
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 18

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Carroll County
Carroll County, AR 53.0 Elevated —
Taney County, MO 63.4 Elevated +10.5
Boone County, AR 52.1 Elevated -0.9
Barry County, MO 49.3 Normal -3.7
Madison County, AR 48.6 Normal -4.4
Newton County, AR 44.7 Normal -8.3
Stone County, MO 39.5 Normal -13.5
Benton County, AR 34.2 Healthy -18.8

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Carroll County
Marion County, KY 53.0 Elevated +0.0
Owyhee County, ID 52.9 Elevated -0.0
Accomack County, VA 53.0 Elevated +0.1
Seneca County, NY 53.1 Elevated +0.1
Stone County, AR 53.1 Elevated +0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Carroll 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 Carroll 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.

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Frequently Asked Questions

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

    Carroll County has a County Distress Index score of 53.0 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 1,402nd nationally out of 3,144 counties and 64th in Arkansas out of 75 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Carroll County?

    The primary driver of distress in Carroll County is Consumer Credit Distress, where the county scores 63.6 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Debt in Collections, Medical Debt, Auto Loan Delinquency.

  • How does Carroll County compare to neighboring counties?

    Carroll County (53.0) can be compared to its 7 neighboring counties: Taney County, MO (63.4); Boone County, AR (52.1); Barry County, MO (49.3).

  • 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). Carroll County's score of 53.0 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Carroll 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 Carroll County?

    Carroll County, Arkansas has a population of approximately 28,814 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.