Washington County, Arkansas

County Distress Index: Elevated · 53.8 | 261,549 people · 62nd most distressed in Arkansas
American Default Research

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Washington County, AR registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 53.8 — 1348th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Housing Cost Burden, where a large share of households spend more than 30% of income on housing. Within Arkansas, it ranks 62nd of 75 counties. Its score is in the middle of its 4 neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Washington County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 65.2 — above the national median.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 65.2
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 62
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 62
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 41
Homeownership Rate 96
Economic Vitality 61.9
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 66
Rent-to-Income Ratio 77
Business Formation Rate 30
House Price Change (YoY) 57
Consumer Credit Distress 57.7
Debt in Collections 56
Medical Debt 56
Auto Loan Delinquency 61
Credit Card Delinquency 41
Uninsured Rate 78
Subprime Credit Population 62
Legal Distress 44.3
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 44
Structural Poverty 21.4
Unemployment Rate 30
Poverty Rate 49
Income vs. State Median 10
Child Poverty Rate 27
Disability Rate 12
Transfer Income Dependency 11

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Washington County
Washington County, AR 53.8 Elevated —
Adair County, OK 74.9 Serious +21.1
Crawford County, AR 60.5 Elevated +6.6
Madison County, AR 48.6 Normal -5.2
Benton County, AR 34.2 Healthy -19.6

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Washington County
Greenville County, SC 53.9 Elevated +0.1
Allen County, IN 53.7 Elevated -0.1
Macomb County, MI 54.1 Elevated +0.2
District of Columbia, DC 53.5 Elevated -0.4
Durham County, NC 54.3 Elevated +0.5

Download Data

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

Find Help in Washington County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Washington County.

CREDIT COUNSELING OF ARKANSAS
Fayetteville
479-521-8877 Website
Foreclosure PreventionFinancial CounselingPre-PurchaseHomebuyer Education

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 Washington 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 Washington County, Arkansas?

    Washington County has a County Distress Index score of 53.8 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 1,348th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 62nd in Arkansas out of 75 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Washington County?

    The primary driver of distress in Washington County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 65.2 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Washington County compare to neighboring counties?

    Washington County (53.8) can be compared to its 4 neighboring counties: Adair County, OK (74.9); Crawford County, AR (60.5); Madison County, AR (48.6).

  • 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). Washington County's score of 53.8 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Washington 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 Washington County?

    Washington County, Arkansas has a population of approximately 261,549 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a large county.