Lafayette County, Arkansas

County Distress Index: Serious · 68.3 | 6,095 people · 31st most distressed in Arkansas
American Default Research

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Lafayette County, AR shows significant household financial distress with a score of 68.3 — 473rd 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 31st of 75 counties. Among its 6 neighboring counties, 4 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Lafayette 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
Consumer Credit Distress 87.8
Debt in Collections 95
Medical Debt 81
Auto Loan Delinquency 93
Credit Card Delinquency 93
Uninsured Rate 55
Subprime Credit Population 89
Structural Poverty 85.5
Unemployment Rate 88
Poverty Rate 92
Income vs. State Median 81
Child Poverty Rate 91
Disability Rate 94
Transfer Income Dependency 74
Economic Vitality 57.4
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 60
Rent-to-Income Ratio 75
Business Formation Rate 22
House Price Change (YoY) 59
Housing Cost Burden 11.7
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 10
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 6
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 5
Homeownership Rate 34

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Lafayette County
Lafayette County, AR 68.3 Serious —
Webster Parish, LA 80.3 Crisis +12.1
Miller County, AR 79.3 Serious +11.0
Nevada County, AR 75.4 Serious +7.2
Hempstead County, AR 72.6 Serious +4.3
Columbia County, AR 68.1 Serious -0.1
Bossier Parish, LA 67.0 Serious -1.3

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Lafayette County
Kemper County, MS 68.3 Serious +0.0
Clinch County, GA 68.4 Serious +0.1
Hyde County, NC 68.1 Serious -0.2
Dickens County, TX 68.5 Serious +0.3
Duval County, TX 68.7 Serious +0.4

Download Data

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

Find Help in Lafayette 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 Lafayette 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 Lafayette County, Arkansas?

    Lafayette County has a County Distress Index score of 68.3 out of 100, placing it in the Serious zone. It ranks 473rd nationally out of 3,144 counties and 31st in Arkansas out of 75 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Lafayette County?

    The primary driver of distress in Lafayette 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 Lafayette County compare to neighboring counties?

    Lafayette County (68.3) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Webster Parish, LA (80.3); Miller County, AR (79.3); Nevada County, AR (75.4).

  • 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). Lafayette County's score of 68.3 sits in the Serious zone (71–86).

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

    Lafayette 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 Lafayette County?

    Lafayette County, Arkansas has a population of approximately 6,095 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a tiny county.