Poinsett County, Arkansas

County Distress Index: Serious · 73.2 | 22,397 people · 15th most distressed in Arkansas
American Default Research

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Poinsett County, AR shows significant household financial distress with a score of 73.2 — 261st 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 15th of 75 counties. Among its 5 neighboring counties, 3 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Poinsett County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 91.8 — worse than roughly 92% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 91.8
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 92
Consumer Credit Distress 90.1
Debt in Collections 93
Medical Debt 96
Auto Loan Delinquency 86
Credit Card Delinquency 99
Uninsured Rate 64
Subprime Credit Population 90
Structural Poverty 74.6
Unemployment Rate 69
Poverty Rate 82
Income vs. State Median 44
Child Poverty Rate 85
Disability Rate 95
Transfer Income Dependency 83
Housing Cost Burden 44.2
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 51
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 29
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 12
Homeownership Rate 87
Economic Vitality 39.5
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 14
Rent-to-Income Ratio 44
Business Formation Rate 73
House Price Change (YoY) 92

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Poinsett County
Poinsett County, AR 73.2 Serious —
Crittenden County, AR 85.8 Crisis +12.6
Mississippi County, AR 76.8 Serious +3.6
Craighead County, AR 75.1 Serious +1.9
Cross County, AR 73.2 Serious -0.1
Jackson County, AR 72.8 Serious -0.4

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Poinsett County
Long County, GA 73.2 Serious +0.0
Clay County, MS 73.3 Serious +0.1
Cross County, AR 73.2 Serious -0.1
Zapata County, TX 73.3 Serious +0.1
Hampton County, SC 73.3 Serious +0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Poinsett County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Poinsett County.

SOUTHERN BANCORP COMMUNITY PARTNERS
Trumann
870-816-1126 Website
Foreclosure PreventionFinancial CounselingFinancial CounselingFair Housing

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 Poinsett 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 Poinsett County, Arkansas?

    Poinsett County has a County Distress Index score of 73.2 out of 100, placing it in the Serious zone. It ranks 261st nationally out of 3,144 counties and 15th in Arkansas out of 75 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Poinsett County?

    The primary driver of distress in Poinsett County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 91.8 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Poinsett County compare to neighboring counties?

    Poinsett County (73.2) can be compared to its 5 neighboring counties: Crittenden County, AR (85.8); Mississippi County, AR (76.8); Craighead County, AR (75.1).

  • 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). Poinsett County's score of 73.2 sits in the Serious zone (71–86).

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

    Poinsett 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 Poinsett County?

    Poinsett County, Arkansas has a population of approximately 22,397 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.