Pope County, Arkansas

County Distress Index: Elevated · 56.0 | 64,593 people · 57th most distressed in Arkansas
American Default Research

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Pope County, AR registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 56.0 — 1202nd 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 57th of 75 counties. Among its 7 neighboring counties, 4 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Pope County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 65.4 — above the national median.

Legal Distress Primary driver 65.4
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 65
Housing Cost Burden 61.7
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 63
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 60
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 56
Homeownership Rate 66
Consumer Credit Distress 57.1
Debt in Collections 62
Medical Debt 60
Auto Loan Delinquency 51
Credit Card Delinquency 55
Uninsured Rate 45
Subprime Credit Population 62
Structural Poverty 51.1
Unemployment Rate 80
Poverty Rate 49
Income vs. State Median 20
Child Poverty Rate 40
Disability Rate 73
Transfer Income Dependency 58
Economic Vitality 35.9
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 25
Rent-to-Income Ratio 29
Business Formation Rate 66
House Price Change (YoY) 57

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Pope County
Pope County, AR 56.0 Elevated —
Johnson County, AR 67.7 Serious +11.7
Van Buren County, AR 64.3 Elevated +8.3
Conway County, AR 61.3 Elevated +5.3
Logan County, AR 55.5 Elevated -0.5
Yell County, AR 53.9 Elevated -2.1
Newton County, AR 44.7 Normal -11.3
Searcy County, AR 43.8 Normal -12.2

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Pope County
Cullman County, AL 56.0 Elevated -0.0
Peoria County, IL 56.0 Elevated -0.0
Linn County, OR 55.9 Elevated -0.1
Lonoke County, AR 56.1 Elevated +0.1
Greene County, TN 55.8 Elevated -0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Pope County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Pope County.

UNIVERSAL HOUSING DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
Russellville
479-968-5001 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 Pope 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 Pope County, Arkansas?

    Pope County has a County Distress Index score of 56.0 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 1,202nd nationally out of 3,144 counties and 57th in Arkansas out of 75 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Pope County?

    The primary driver of distress in Pope County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 65.4 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Pope County compare to neighboring counties?

    Pope County (56.0) can be compared to its 7 neighboring counties: Johnson County, AR (67.7); Van Buren County, AR (64.3); Conway County, AR (61.3).

  • 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 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). Pope County's score of 56.0 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Pope 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 Pope County?

    Pope County, Arkansas has a population of approximately 64,593 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.