Pike County, Arkansas

County Distress Index: Elevated · 60.4 | 10,208 people · 47th most distressed in Arkansas
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Pike County, AR registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 60.4 — 928th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Structural Poverty, where poverty rates are high, transfer income dependency is elevated, and household incomes lag well behind state and national medians. Within Arkansas, it ranks 47th 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. Pike County's primary driver is Structural Poverty at 74.0 — above the national median.

Structural Poverty Primary driver 74.0
Unemployment Rate 80
Poverty Rate 79
Income vs. State Median 37
Child Poverty Rate 85
Disability Rate 89
Transfer Income Dependency 86
Legal Distress 68.8
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 69
Consumer Credit Distress 63.0
Debt in Collections 50
Medical Debt 62
Auto Loan Delinquency 90
Credit Card Delinquency 55
Uninsured Rate 74
Subprime Credit Population 57
Economic Vitality 52.5
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 54
Rent-to-Income Ratio 38
Business Formation Rate 69
House Price Change (YoY) 59
Housing Cost Burden 46.7
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 46
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 62
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 5
Homeownership Rate 42

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Pike County
Pike County, AR 60.4 Elevated —
Nevada County, AR 75.4 Serious +15.1
Hempstead County, AR 72.6 Serious +12.2
Clark County, AR 72.4 Serious +12.0
Howard County, AR 71.6 Serious +11.3
Montgomery County, AR 57.8 Elevated -2.5
Polk County, AR 56.1 Elevated -4.3

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Pike County
Live Oak County, TX 60.4 Elevated +0.0
Big Horn County, MT 60.3 Elevated -0.0
Austin County, TX 60.3 Elevated -0.0
Wood County, TX 60.3 Elevated -0.0
Dinwiddie County, VA 60.3 Elevated -0.0

Download Data

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

Find Help in Pike 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 Pike 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 Pike County, Arkansas?

    Pike County has a County Distress Index score of 60.4 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 928th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 47th in Arkansas out of 75 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Pike County?

    The primary driver of distress in Pike County is Structural Poverty, where the county scores 74.0 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Unemployment Rate, Poverty Rate, Income vs. State Median.

  • How does Pike County compare to neighboring counties?

    Pike County (60.4) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Nevada County, AR (75.4); Hempstead County, AR (72.6); Clark County, AR (72.4).

  • 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 Elevated 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). Pike County's score of 60.4 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Pike 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 Pike County?

    Pike County, Arkansas has a population of approximately 10,208 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.