Sebastian County, Arkansas

County Distress Index: Elevated · 61.7 | 129,098 people · 44th most distressed in Arkansas
American Default Research

Behind on your mortgage or facing eviction? Take a 2-minute assessment to see your options.

Sebastian County, AR registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 61.7 — 838th 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 44th of 75 counties. Its score is in the middle of its 6 neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Sebastian County's primary driver is Consumer Credit Distress at 72.2 — above the national median.

Consumer Credit Distress Primary driver 72.2
Debt in Collections 80
Medical Debt 63
Auto Loan Delinquency 64
Credit Card Delinquency 76
Uninsured Rate 68
Subprime Credit Population 76
Legal Distress 72.0
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 72
Housing Cost Burden 58.3
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 56
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 55
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 29
Homeownership Rate 91
Structural Poverty 49.9
Unemployment Rate 67
Poverty Rate 44
Income vs. State Median 22
Child Poverty Rate 49
Disability Rate 89
Transfer Income Dependency 46
Economic Vitality 25.0
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 10
Rent-to-Income Ratio 32
Business Formation Rate 54
House Price Change (YoY) 25

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Sebastian County
Sebastian County, AR 61.7 Elevated —
Sequoyah County, OK 75.0 Serious +13.3
Le Flore County, OK 70.5 Serious +8.8
Scott County, AR 68.7 Serious +7.0
Crawford County, AR 60.5 Elevated -1.2
Logan County, AR 55.5 Elevated -6.2
Franklin County, AR 55.0 Elevated -6.7

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Sebastian County
Van Zandt County, TX 61.7 Elevated +0.0
Vermilion Parish, LA 61.7 Elevated -0.0
Carson City, NV 61.7 Elevated -0.0
McMinn County, TN 61.4 Elevated -0.3
Pickens County, SC 61.4 Elevated -0.3

Download Data

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

Find Help in Sebastian County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Sebastian County.

CRAWFORD SEBASTIAN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL
Fort Smith
479-785-2303 Website
Foreclosure PreventionFair HousingPre-Lease/Pre-PurchasePre-Purchase

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 Sebastian 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 →

Continue Reading

Frequently Asked Questions

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

    Sebastian County has a County Distress Index score of 61.7 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 838th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 44th in Arkansas out of 75 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Sebastian County?

    The primary driver of distress in Sebastian County is Consumer Credit Distress, where the county scores 72.2 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Debt in Collections, Medical Debt, Auto Loan Delinquency.

  • How does Sebastian County compare to neighboring counties?

    Sebastian County (61.7) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Sequoyah County, OK (75.0); Le Flore County, OK (70.5); Scott County, AR (68.7).

  • 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). Sebastian County's score of 61.7 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Sebastian 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 Sebastian County?

    Sebastian County, Arkansas has a population of approximately 129,098 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.