Union County, Arkansas

County Distress Index: Serious · 70.7 | 37,397 people · 25th most distressed in Arkansas
American Default Research

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Union County, AR shows significant household financial distress with a score of 70.7 — 362nd 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 25th of 75 counties. Its score is in the middle of its 8 neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Union County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 91.5 — worse than roughly 92% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 91.5
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 92
Consumer Credit Distress 85.5
Debt in Collections 90
Medical Debt 91
Auto Loan Delinquency 96
Credit Card Delinquency 93
Uninsured Rate 27
Subprime Credit Population 85
Structural Poverty 66.2
Unemployment Rate 86
Poverty Rate 82
Income vs. State Median 54
Child Poverty Rate 77
Disability Rate 55
Transfer Income Dependency 57
Housing Cost Burden 50.9
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 53
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 54
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 24
Homeownership Rate 57
Economic Vitality 31.9
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 3
Rent-to-Income Ratio 61
Business Formation Rate 34
House Price Change (YoY) 88

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Union County
Union County, AR 70.7 Serious —
Morehouse Parish, LA 82.1 Crisis +11.4
Claiborne Parish, LA 74.8 Serious +4.1
Ashley County, AR 73.7 Serious +3.0
Bradley County, AR 72.4 Serious +1.8
Columbia County, AR 68.1 Serious -2.6
Ouachita County, AR 66.8 Serious -3.9
Union Parish, LA 61.4 Elevated -9.3
Calhoun County, AR 46.0 Normal -24.7

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Union County
Wayne County, KY 70.7 Serious +0.0
Pasquotank County, NC 70.7 Serious +0.0
Harlan County, KY 70.7 Serious +0.0
Neshoba County, MS 70.8 Serious +0.1
Screven County, GA 70.8 Serious +0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Union 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 Union 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 Union County, Arkansas?

    Union County has a County Distress Index score of 70.7 out of 100, placing it in the Serious zone. It ranks 362nd nationally out of 3,144 counties and 25th in Arkansas out of 75 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Union County?

    The primary driver of distress in Union County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 91.5 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Union County compare to neighboring counties?

    Union County (70.7) can be compared to its 8 neighboring counties: Morehouse Parish, LA (82.1); Claiborne Parish, LA (74.8); Ashley County, AR (73.7).

  • 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 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). Union County's score of 70.7 sits in the Serious zone (71–86).

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

    Union 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 Union County?

    Union County, Arkansas has a population of approximately 37,397 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.