White County, Arkansas

County Distress Index: Elevated · 63.5 | 78,452 people · 38th most distressed in Arkansas
American Default Research

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White County, AR registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 63.5 — 746th 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 38th of 75 counties. Among its 7 neighboring counties, 5 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. White County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 85.4 — worse than roughly 85% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 85.4
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 85
Consumer Credit Distress 71.0
Debt in Collections 69
Medical Debt 49
Auto Loan Delinquency 75
Credit Card Delinquency 86
Uninsured Rate 63
Subprime Credit Population 76
Structural Poverty 56.3
Unemployment Rate 61
Poverty Rate 66
Income vs. State Median 26
Child Poverty Rate 59
Disability Rate 75
Transfer Income Dependency 62
Housing Cost Burden 55.6
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 73
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 36
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 30
Homeownership Rate 77
Economic Vitality 36.8
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 30
Rent-to-Income Ratio 26
Business Formation Rate 51
House Price Change (YoY) 77

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. White County
White County, AR 63.5 Elevated —
Jackson County, AR 72.8 Serious +9.4
Woodruff County, AR 71.0 Serious +7.6
Faulkner County, AR 63.0 Elevated -0.5
Independence County, AR 59.3 Elevated -4.2
Lonoke County, AR 56.1 Elevated -7.4
Prairie County, AR 50.5 Elevated -13.0
Cleburne County, AR 49.4 Normal -14.1

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. White County
Taney County, MO 63.4 Elevated -0.0
Suffolk city, VA 63.4 Elevated -0.0
Lee County, AL 63.4 Elevated -0.0
Madera County, CA 63.4 Elevated -0.0
Paulding County, GA 63.4 Elevated -0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in White 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 White 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 White County, Arkansas?

    White County has a County Distress Index score of 63.5 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 746th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 38th in Arkansas out of 75 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in White County?

    The primary driver of distress in White County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 85.4 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does White County compare to neighboring counties?

    White County (63.5) can be compared to its 7 neighboring counties: Jackson County, AR (72.8); Woodruff County, AR (71.0); Faulkner County, AR (63.0).

  • 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). White County's score of 63.5 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    White 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 White County?

    White County, Arkansas has a population of approximately 78,452 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.