Desha County, Arkansas

County Distress Index: Serious · 79.8 | 10,479 people · 5th most distressed in Arkansas
American Default Research

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Desha County, AR shows significant household financial distress with a score of 79.8 — 67th 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 5th 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. Desha County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 95.0 — worse than roughly 95% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 95.0
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 95
Structural Poverty 89.1
Unemployment Rate 95
Poverty Rate 95
Income vs. State Median 82
Child Poverty Rate 95
Disability Rate 85
Transfer Income Dependency 87
Consumer Credit Distress 88.5
Debt in Collections 94
Medical Debt 86
Auto Loan Delinquency 95
Credit Card Delinquency 95
Uninsured Rate 54
Subprime Credit Population 87
Housing Cost Burden 67.1
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 46
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 78
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 64
Homeownership Rate 93
Economic Vitality 39.3
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 24
Rent-to-Income Ratio 76
Business Formation Rate 13
House Price Change (YoY) 59

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Desha County
Desha County, AR 79.8 Serious —
Phillips County, AR 85.5 Crisis +5.8
Bolivar County, MS 84.7 Crisis +4.9
Chicot County, AR 76.1 Serious -3.7
Drew County, AR 72.6 Serious -7.2
Arkansas County, AR 67.9 Serious -11.9
Lincoln County, AR 56.1 Elevated -23.7

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Desha County
Bamberg County, SC 79.8 Serious +0.1
Bee County, TX 79.8 Serious +0.1
Marshall County, MS 79.7 Serious -0.1
Bell County, KY 79.9 Serious +0.2
Upson County, GA 79.6 Serious -0.2

Download Data

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

Find Help in Desha 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 Desha 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 Desha County, Arkansas?

    Desha County has a County Distress Index score of 79.8 out of 100, placing it in the Serious zone. It ranks 67th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 5th in Arkansas out of 75 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Desha County?

    The primary driver of distress in Desha County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 95.0 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Desha County compare to neighboring counties?

    Desha County (79.8) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Phillips County, AR (85.5); Bolivar County, MS (84.7); Chicot County, AR (76.1).

  • 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). Desha County's score of 79.8 sits in the Serious zone (71–86).

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

    Desha 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 Desha County?

    Desha County, Arkansas has a population of approximately 10,479 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.