Craighead County, Arkansas

County Distress Index: Serious · 75.1 | 113,993 people · 11th most distressed in Arkansas
American Default Research

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

Craighead County, AR shows significant household financial distress with a score of 75.1 — 180th 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 11th of 75 counties. Among its 6 neighboring counties, 4 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Craighead County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 88.1 — worse than roughly 88% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 88.1
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 88
Consumer Credit Distress 85.0
Debt in Collections 89
Medical Debt 97
Auto Loan Delinquency 80
Credit Card Delinquency 94
Uninsured Rate 53
Subprime Credit Population 82
Housing Cost Burden 78.2
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 85
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 82
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 22
Homeownership Rate 94
Structural Poverty 50.4
Unemployment Rate 52
Poverty Rate 68
Income vs. State Median 18
Child Poverty Rate 74
Disability Rate 75
Transfer Income Dependency 38
Economic Vitality 43.4
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 43
Rent-to-Income Ratio 47
Business Formation Rate 31
House Price Change (YoY) 61

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Craighead County
Craighead County, AR 75.1 Serious —
Dunklin County, MO 79.2 Serious +4.0
Mississippi County, AR 76.8 Serious +1.7
Greene County, AR 74.1 Serious -1.0
Poinsett County, AR 73.2 Serious -1.9
Jackson County, AR 72.8 Serious -2.3
Lawrence County, AR 70.5 Serious -4.7

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Craighead County
Putnam County, FL 75.1 Serious -0.0
Angelina County, TX 75.1 Serious -0.1
Newport News city, VA 75.3 Serious +0.2
Potter County, TX 74.7 Serious -0.4
Oktibbeha County, MS 74.6 Serious -0.5

Download Data

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

Find Help in Craighead 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 Craighead 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 Craighead County, Arkansas?

    Craighead County has a County Distress Index score of 75.1 out of 100, placing it in the Serious zone. It ranks 180th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 11th in Arkansas out of 75 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Craighead County?

    The primary driver of distress in Craighead County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 88.1 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Craighead County compare to neighboring counties?

    Craighead County (75.1) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Dunklin County, MO (79.2); Mississippi County, AR (76.8); Greene County, AR (74.1).

  • 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 Serious 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). Craighead County's score of 75.1 sits in the Serious zone (71–86).

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

    Craighead 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 Craighead County?

    Craighead County, Arkansas has a population of approximately 113,993 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.