“Counties like it” are non-metro counties with a similar population and a median household income near Desha County's ($43,469). Ahead or behind means more than 15% better or worse than the typical one.
Ahead of similar counties on 2 measures:
Behind similar counties on 1 measure:
About the same on 8: life expectancy, adults under 65 without health insurance, children in poverty, food insecurity, households with severe housing problems, unemployment, households with broadband internet, jail population per 100,000 residents 15–64.
| Measure | Desha County | Typical similar county |
|---|---|---|
| Population change, 2020–2024 | -8.8% 11,321 → 10,321 | -1.7% |
| School spending per student (day-to-day costs) | $14,901 | $14,842 |
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, Desha County's general fund held $2,721,342 — enough to cover about 8.7 months of that year's spending. Five years earlier (2020) it held $2,636,320. Among the 75 Arkansas counties whose state audits include this five-year schedule, that ranks 47 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 $43,469 here). Comparing with them, instead of the whole country, shows what similar places have managed. Desha County is furthest behind on residents per mental health provider.
| Measure | Desha County | Typical similar county | Doing best among similar counties |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy about the same | 70.6 years | 71.2 years | Alleghany County, NC 77.3 years Wheeler County, GA 76.5 years Elliott County, KY 76.3 years |
| Adults under 65 without health insurance about the same | 10.5% | 12.2% | Elliott County, KY 5.1% Leslie County, KY 5.4% Powell County, KY 6.2% |
| Residents per primary care doctor ahead of similar counties | 2,218 | 3,723 | Alleghany County, NC 1,004 Montmorency County, MI 1,328 Pulaski County, GA 1,653 |
| Residents per mental health provider behind similar counties | 1,497 | 1,242 | Quay County, NM 72 Pushmataha County, OK 97 Choctaw County, OK 121 |
| Children in poverty about the same | 35.6% | 31.0% | Monroe County, WV 20.5% Clay County, AR 22.3% Howard County, AR 22.5% |
| Food insecurity about the same | 20.6% | 19.1% | Gilmer County, WV 11.6% Monroe County, WV 13.5% Jefferson County, GA 14.3% |
| Households with severe housing problems about the same | 13.7% | 13.0% | Monroe County, WV 5.2% Conecuh County, AL 6.3% Red River Parish, LA 7.7% |
| Unemployment about the same | 4.6% | 4.3% | Grayson County, VA 2.7% Monroe County, WV 3.0% Scott County, AR 3.0% |
| Households with broadband internet about the same | 74.3% | 76.8% | Terry County, TX 86.5% McCulloch County, TX 86.1% Calhoun County, FL 85.3% |
| Jail population per 100,000 residents 15–64 about the same | 556 | 511 | Bamberg County, SC 166 Chicot County, AR 174 Montmorency County, MI 178 |
| Bridges rated poor ahead of similar counties | 3.6% | 5.1% | Wheeler County, GA 0.0% McCulloch County, TX 0.0% Dimmit 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.