Cross County, Arkansas

County Distress Index: Serious · 73.2 | 16,420 people · 16th most distressed in Arkansas
American Default Research

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Cross County, AR shows significant household financial distress with a score of 73.2 — 263rd 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 16th of 75 counties. Among its 5 neighboring counties, 3 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Cross County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 88.7 — worse than roughly 89% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 88.7
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 89
Consumer Credit Distress 84.6
Debt in Collections 90
Medical Debt 87
Auto Loan Delinquency 88
Credit Card Delinquency 93
Uninsured Rate 45
Subprime Credit Population 84
Structural Poverty 73.9
Unemployment Rate 69
Poverty Rate 82
Income vs. State Median 64
Child Poverty Rate 81
Disability Rate 68
Transfer Income Dependency 80
Economic Vitality 57.8
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 55
Rent-to-Income Ratio 59
Business Formation Rate 44
House Price Change (YoY) 95
Housing Cost Burden 49.4
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 62
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 27
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 36
Homeownership Rate 82

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Cross County
Cross County, AR 73.2 Serious —
Crittenden County, AR 85.8 Crisis +12.7
St. Francis County, AR 83.3 Crisis +10.2
Poinsett County, AR 73.2 Serious +0.1
Jackson County, AR 72.8 Serious -0.3
Woodruff County, AR 71.0 Serious -2.1

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Cross County
Poinsett County, AR 73.2 Serious +0.1
Jones County, TX 73.1 Serious -0.1
Long County, GA 73.2 Serious +0.1
Clay County, MS 73.3 Serious +0.1
Zapata County, TX 73.3 Serious +0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Cross 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 Cross 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 Cross County, Arkansas?

    Cross County has a County Distress Index score of 73.2 out of 100, placing it in the Serious zone. It ranks 263rd nationally out of 3,144 counties and 16th in Arkansas out of 75 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Cross County?

    The primary driver of distress in Cross County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 88.7 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Cross County compare to neighboring counties?

    Cross County (73.2) can be compared to its 5 neighboring counties: Crittenden County, AR (85.8); St. Francis County, AR (83.3); Poinsett County, AR (73.2).

  • 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). Cross County's score of 73.2 sits in the Serious zone (71–86).

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

    Cross 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 Cross County?

    Cross County, Arkansas has a population of approximately 16,420 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.