Cleveland County, Arkansas

County Distress Index: Elevated · 63.5 | 7,378 people · 37th most distressed in Arkansas
American Default Research

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Cleveland County, AR registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 63.5 — 744th 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 37th 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. Cleveland County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 84.3 — worse than roughly 84% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 84.3
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 84
Consumer Credit Distress 78.1
Debt in Collections 69
Medical Debt 89
Auto Loan Delinquency 91
Credit Card Delinquency 95
Uninsured Rate 16
Subprime Credit Population 79
Structural Poverty 63.2
Unemployment Rate 72
Poverty Rate 66
Income vs. State Median 32
Child Poverty Rate 64
Disability Rate 95
Transfer Income Dependency 65
Economic Vitality 37.0
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 37
Rent-to-Income Ratio 32
Business Formation Rate 60
House Price Change (YoY) 5
Housing Cost Burden 36.5
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 58
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 27
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 17
Homeownership Rate 23

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Cleveland County
Cleveland County, AR 63.5 Elevated —
Jefferson County, AR 77.0 Serious +13.5
Drew County, AR 72.6 Serious +9.1
Bradley County, AR 72.4 Serious +9.0
Dallas County, AR 72.3 Serious +8.8
Lincoln County, AR 56.1 Elevated -7.4
Grant County, AR 49.3 Normal -14.2
Calhoun County, AR 46.0 Normal -17.5

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Cleveland County
Haskell County, TX 63.5 Elevated +0.1
Stephens County, TX 63.4 Elevated -0.1
Gallatin County, KY 63.6 Elevated +0.1
Lincoln County, GA 63.7 Elevated +0.2
Franklin County, MS 63.2 Elevated -0.3

Download Data

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

Find Help in Cleveland 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 Cleveland 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 Cleveland County, Arkansas?

    Cleveland County has a County Distress Index score of 63.5 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 744th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 37th in Arkansas out of 75 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Cleveland County?

    The primary driver of distress in Cleveland County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 84.3 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Cleveland County compare to neighboring counties?

    Cleveland County (63.5) can be compared to its 7 neighboring counties: Jefferson County, AR (77.0); Drew County, AR (72.6); Bradley County, AR (72.4).

  • 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). Cleveland County's score of 63.5 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Cleveland 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 Cleveland County?

    Cleveland County, Arkansas has a population of approximately 7,378 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a tiny county.