“Counties like it” are non-metro counties with a similar population and a median household income near Arkansas County's ($50,198). Ahead or behind means more than 15% better or worse than the typical one.
Ahead of similar counties on 5 measures:
Behind similar counties on 1 measure:
About the same on 5: life expectancy, children in poverty, food insecurity, households with severe housing problems, households with broadband internet.
| Measure | Arkansas County | Typical similar county |
|---|---|---|
| Population change, 2020–2024 | -6.2% 17,104 → 16,050 | -0.2% |
| School spending per student (day-to-day costs) | $12,104 | $13,562 |
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau Vintage 2024 population estimates; Census Annual Survey of School System Finances (school year 2023), current spending divided by enrollment across the districts based in the county.
At the end of 2024, Arkansas County's general fund held $6,104,018 — enough to cover about 13.5 months of that year's spending. Five years earlier (2020) it held $4,225,204. Among the 75 Arkansas counties whose state audits include this five-year schedule, that ranks 27 of 75 for months covered; the typical county held about 10.6 months.
Source: each county's state audit, “Schedule of Selected Information for the Last Five Years — General Fund” (unaudited schedule). Latest years differ by county (2023, 2024). A larger reserve isn't automatically better or worse — it can be savings for a planned project, or money not yet spent. The year-by-year table.
“Counties like it” means other counties outside metro areas with a similar number of people and a similar median household income (about $50,198 here). Comparing with them, instead of the whole country, shows what similar places have managed. Arkansas County is furthest behind on jail population per 100,000 residents 15–64.
| Measure | Arkansas County | Typical similar county | Doing best among similar counties |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy about the same | 68.7 years | 72.2 years | Presque Isle County, MI 77.6 years Alleghany County, NC 77.3 years Mackinac County, MI 77.2 years |
| Adults under 65 without health insurance ahead of similar counties | 8.2% | 11.8% | Appanoose County, IA 5.6% Greensville County, VA 5.9% Clay County, IL 5.9% |
| Residents per primary care doctor ahead of similar counties | 2,090 | 3,069 | Ashland County, WI 575 Northampton County, VA 930 Alleghany County, NC 1,004 |
| Residents per mental health provider ahead of similar counties | 709 | 1,101 | Alamosa County, CO 66 Atoka County, OK 90 Colfax County, NM 98 |
| Children in poverty about the same | 23.1% | 25.6% | Hardy County, WV 16.4% Ashland County, WI 16.9% Marion County, KY 17.3% |
| Food insecurity about the same | 18.0% | 18.2% | Greensville County, VA 10.3% Grant County, WV 11.6% Brunswick County, VA 11.7% |
| Households with severe housing problems about the same | 10.6% | 12.2% | Monroe County, WV 5.2% Conecuh County, AL 6.3% Winn Parish, LA 6.3% |
| Unemployment ahead of similar counties | 2.7% | 3.8% | Clay County, AL 2.4% Candler County, GA 2.5% Hill County, MT 2.5% |
| Households with broadband internet about the same | 81.0% | 79.4% | Alamosa County, CO 89.7% Newton County, TX 89.2% Roscommon County, MI 87.4% |
| Jail population per 100,000 residents 15–64 behind similar counties | 758 | 450 | Jackson County, AR 90 Glacier County, MT 97 Appanoose County, IA 138 |
| Bridges rated poor ahead of similar counties | 2.6% | 5.2% | Candler County, GA 0.0% Lawrence County, MS 0.0% Morris County, TX 0.0% |
“Behind” or “ahead” means more than 15% worse or better than the typical (median) similar county; small differences can be noise. Sources: County Health Rankings 2025 (health, money and internet), Vera Institute (jail, latest year from 2015 on), FHWA National Bridge Inventory 2025, HUD (metro areas), Census 2024 population. What has worked elsewhere on each of these.
“Highest” and “lowest” are just order, not grades: a high rank for poverty or hazard losses means more of it. Each figure's source is in its section below.
Related: By the numbers · The money trail · Audits · What has worked. Spot an error? Report it.