Mississippi County, Arkansas

County Distress Index: Serious · 76.8 | 38,663 people · 8th most distressed in Arkansas
American Default Research

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Mississippi County, AR shows significant household financial distress with a score of 76.8 — 133rd nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Consumer Credit Distress, where residents carry heavy debt burdens with elevated delinquency and collections rates. Within Arkansas, it ranks 8th of 75 counties. Among its 9 neighboring counties, 5 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Mississippi County's primary driver is Consumer Credit Distress at 93.3 — worse than roughly 93% of U.S. counties.

Consumer Credit Distress Primary driver 93.3
Debt in Collections 97
Medical Debt 95
Auto Loan Delinquency 92
Credit Card Delinquency 99
Uninsured Rate 61
Subprime Credit Population 97
Legal Distress 84.1
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 84
Structural Poverty 75.0
Unemployment Rate 82
Poverty Rate 95
Income vs. State Median 55
Child Poverty Rate 92
Disability Rate 86
Transfer Income Dependency 59
Housing Cost Burden 59.6
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 54
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 66
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 7
Homeownership Rate 94
Economic Vitality 30.4
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 1
Rent-to-Income Ratio 53
Business Formation Rate 54
House Price Change (YoY) 67

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Mississippi County
Mississippi County, AR 76.8 Serious —
Pemiscot County, MO 87.1 Crisis +10.3
Crittenden County, AR 85.8 Crisis +9.0
Shelby County, TN 81.3 Crisis +4.5
Lauderdale County, TN 79.4 Serious +2.6
Dunklin County, MO 79.2 Serious +2.3
Craighead County, AR 75.1 Serious -1.7
Poinsett County, AR 73.2 Serious -3.6
Dyer County, TN 68.2 Serious -8.7
Tipton County, TN 62.2 Elevated -14.6

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Mississippi County
Adams County, MS 76.9 Serious +0.0
Terry County, TX 76.8 Serious -0.1
Sumter County, AL 76.7 Serious -0.1
Worth County, GA 76.7 Serious -0.1
Martinsville city, VA 76.7 Serious -0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Mississippi County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Mississippi County.

MISSISSIPPI COUNTY, ARKANSAS ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION, INC.
BLYTHEVILLE
870-776-1054 Website
Financial CounselingFinancial CounselingPre-PurchaseHomebuyer Education

See all counselors in Arkansas →

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 Mississippi 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.

Need legal help? Find a foreclosure defense attorney in Arkansas →

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Frequently Asked Questions

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

    Mississippi County has a County Distress Index score of 76.8 out of 100, placing it in the Serious zone. It ranks 133rd nationally out of 3,144 counties and 8th in Arkansas out of 75 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Mississippi County?

    The primary driver of distress in Mississippi County is Consumer Credit Distress, where the county scores 93.3 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Debt in Collections, Medical Debt, Auto Loan Delinquency.

  • How does Mississippi County compare to neighboring counties?

    Mississippi County (76.8) can be compared to its 9 neighboring counties: Pemiscot County, MO (87.1); Crittenden County, AR (85.8); Shelby County, TN (81.3).

  • 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). Mississippi County's score of 76.8 sits in the Serious zone (71–86).

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

    Mississippi 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 Mississippi County?

    Mississippi County, Arkansas has a population of approximately 38,663 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.