Greene County, Arkansas

County Distress Index: Serious · 74.1 | 46,743 people · 13th most distressed in Arkansas
American Default Research

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Greene County, AR shows significant household financial distress with a score of 74.1 — 221st 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 13th of 75 counties. Among its 5 neighboring counties, 3 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Greene County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 88.5 — worse than roughly 89% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 88.5
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 89
Consumer Credit Distress 82.0
Debt in Collections 87
Medical Debt 96
Auto Loan Delinquency 81
Credit Card Delinquency 80
Uninsured Rate 58
Subprime Credit Population 79
Housing Cost Burden 73.2
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 71
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 77
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 52
Homeownership Rate 84
Structural Poverty 60.9
Unemployment Rate 78
Poverty Rate 69
Income vs. State Median 28
Child Poverty Rate 57
Disability Rate 82
Transfer Income Dependency 67
Economic Vitality 44.3
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 29
Rent-to-Income Ratio 34
Business Formation Rate 81
House Price Change (YoY) 79

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Greene County
Greene County, AR 74.1 Serious —
Dunklin County, MO 79.2 Serious +5.0
Craighead County, AR 75.1 Serious +1.0
Lawrence County, AR 70.5 Serious -3.7
Clay County, AR 63.2 Elevated -11.0
Randolph County, AR 62.3 Elevated -11.9

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Greene County
Copiah County, MS 74.2 Serious +0.0
Red River County, TX 74.2 Serious +0.0
Marlboro County, SC 74.1 Serious -0.0
Grenada County, MS 74.1 Serious -0.0
Winston County, MS 74.1 Serious -0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Greene 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 Greene 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 Greene County, Arkansas?

    Greene County has a County Distress Index score of 74.1 out of 100, placing it in the Serious zone. It ranks 221st nationally out of 3,144 counties and 13th in Arkansas out of 75 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Greene County?

    The primary driver of distress in Greene County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 88.5 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Greene County compare to neighboring counties?

    Greene County (74.1) can be compared to its 5 neighboring counties: Dunklin County, MO (79.2); Craighead County, AR (75.1); Lawrence County, AR (70.5).

  • 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). Greene County's score of 74.1 sits in the Serious zone (71–86).

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

    Greene 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 Greene County?

    Greene County, Arkansas has a population of approximately 46,743 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.