Drew County, Arkansas

County Distress Index: Serious · 72.6 | 16,945 people · 18th most distressed in Arkansas
American Default Research

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Drew County, AR shows significant household financial distress with a score of 72.6 — 285th 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 18th of 75 counties. Its score is in the middle of its 6 neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Drew County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 89.1 — worse than roughly 89% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 89.1
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 89
Consumer Credit Distress 86.2
Debt in Collections 89
Medical Debt 95
Auto Loan Delinquency 93
Credit Card Delinquency 93
Uninsured Rate 41
Subprime Credit Population 84
Structural Poverty 76.8
Unemployment Rate 82
Poverty Rate 88
Income vs. State Median 59
Child Poverty Rate 86
Disability Rate 87
Transfer Income Dependency 71
Economic Vitality 49.5
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 52
Rent-to-Income Ratio 66
Business Formation Rate 40
House Price Change (YoY) 8
Housing Cost Burden 45.2
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 30
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 49
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 25
Homeownership Rate 87

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Drew County
Drew County, AR 72.6 Serious —
Desha County, AR 79.8 Serious +7.2
Chicot County, AR 76.1 Serious +3.5
Ashley County, AR 73.7 Serious +1.1
Bradley County, AR 72.4 Serious -0.2
Cleveland County, AR 63.5 Elevated -9.1
Lincoln County, AR 56.1 Elevated -16.5

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Drew County
Hempstead County, AR 72.6 Serious -0.0
Evans County, GA 72.6 Serious +0.0
Allen Parish, LA 72.7 Serious +0.1
Johnson County, KY 72.5 Serious -0.1
Candler County, GA 72.5 Serious -0.2

Download Data

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

Find Help in Drew 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 Drew County residents at no cost.

Legal Aid of Arkansas 1-800-950-5817
Center for Arkansas Legal Services 1-800-950-5817

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Frequently Asked Questions

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

    Drew County has a County Distress Index score of 72.6 out of 100, placing it in the Serious zone. It ranks 285th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 18th in Arkansas out of 75 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Drew County?

    The primary driver of distress in Drew County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 89.1 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Drew County compare to neighboring counties?

    Drew County (72.6) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Desha County, AR (79.8); Chicot County, AR (76.1); Ashley County, AR (73.7).

  • 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). Drew County's score of 72.6 sits in the Serious zone (71–86).

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

    Drew 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 Drew County?

    Drew County, Arkansas has a population of approximately 16,945 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.