About one in nine people in Washington County, Arkansas, has a disability
In Washington County, 11.0% of people reported a disability. That is lower than in 92% of U.S. counties.
Less distressed than 58% of U.S. counties.
What drives Washington County's score
In Washington County, collections and bankruptcy is the highest-scoring part, at 50.3. Jobs are the lowest part, at 32.3. Unemployment averaged 3.3%, Oct 2025 to Sep 2026, lower than in 74% of U.S. counties.
The County Distress Index looks at five parts of household money trouble in Washington County: jobs, late payments on loans, income and the safety net, collections and bankruptcy, and housing costs. Each part is scored from 0 to 100, and a higher score means worse off than other counties.
Even so, Washington County is worse off than most counties on people without health insurance (12.4%, 2020 to 2024).
A longer bar means more trouble. See how the county score works.
- 50.3 of 100
Collections and bankruptcy
Biggest factorCredit records, August 2025; bankruptcy filings, 2025
- People with unpaid debt sent to a collector24.8% · August 202556th percentile
- Bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people115.8 · 202544th percentile
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- 49.7 of 100
Housing costs
Renters, 2020–24 Census survey; HUD's fair market rents, fiscal year 2027
- Renters paying half their income or more in rent18.6% · 2020 to 202452nd percentile
- Rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income20.4% · fiscal year 202746th percentile
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- 49.1 of 100
Late payments
Credit records, August 2025; credit scores, second quarter of 2026
- People with a credit card behind4.9% · August 202540th percentile
- People with a car or retail loan behind6.0% · August 202561st percentile
- People with a subprime credit score38.8% · second quarter of 202645th percentile
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- 42.9 of 100
Income and safety net
Poverty and income, 2024; disability and insurance, 2020–24 Census survey
- People below the poverty line13.5% · 202452nd percentile
- Children below the poverty line15.7% · 202442nd percentile
- People with a disability11.0% · 2020 to 20248th percentile
- People without health insurance12.4% · 2020 to 202480th percentile
- Median household income (lower income, longer bar)$74,040 · 202430th percentile
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- 32.3 of 100
Jobs
Unemployment through Sep 2026; adults not working, 2020–24 Census survey
- Unemployment rate, average over the latest year3.3% · Oct 2025 to Sep 202625th percentile
- Adults 25 to 54 not working18.9% · 2020 to 202438th percentile
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Sources: Urban Institute, Debt in America; Equifax via the St. Louis Fed; Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, Table F-5A; U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey; U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Fair Market Rents and Census income; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates. County Distress Index by American Default Research, from data through Sep 2026.
Where the money in Washington County comes from
Benefit checks are Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid paid on people's behalf, veterans' benefits, and food and income support, so a high share usually means an older population, low pay, or both. In Washington County, 12.3% of residents are 65 or older (Census Bureau, 2024), against 17.2% nationally that year.
Cents of every dollar of income, 2024
Washington County
Arkansas
United States
- Pay from work
- Investments and rent
- Benefit checks
Benefit checks' share of income in Washington County made its largest gain on the way to its 2009 high, from 12.8% in 2004 to 18.0% in 2009.
In Washington County, benefit checks' share of income has nearly doubled since 1969, reaching 16.7% in 2024, but pay from work still brings in about four times as much as benefit checks
In Washington County, Arkansas, benefit checks' share of income nearly doubled from 1969 to 2024, reaching 16.7%; pay from work is plotted alongside. Every fifth year and 2024 are shown.
- Benefit checks
- Pay from work
The share of households in Washington County getting SNAP food aid had its largest rise, from 9.1% in 2011 to 10.3% in 2012.
The share of households in Washington County getting SNAP food aid was at its highest on the chart in 2013 and has since fallen by about half
Biggest drop: 2015 to 2016, reaching 9.2%. Households getting SNAP, every year; each bar is a five-year survey estimate ending that year, so neighboring bars share most of their data, Washington County, Arkansas.
How Washington County has changed
Washington County's population had its largest rise in the last span, from 242,676 in 2019 to 266,184 in 2024.
Washington County's population more than tripled from 1969 to 2024, reaching 266,184, with no dip in any year shown
Smallest rise: 1979 to 1984, reaching 103,516. Residents, yearly estimate, every fifth year and 2024, Washington County, Arkansas.
The jobs count covers work located in the county; the population count covers residents.
The number of jobs located in Washington County more than doubled to 122,001, the highest on the chart
Biggest rise: 2020 to 2025, reaching 122,001. Yearly average of jobs covered by unemployment insurance, every fifth year and 2025, Washington County, Arkansas.
| Measure | Then | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rateBLS LAUS | 1990 3.8% | 2025 3.4% |
| People below the poverty lineCensus SAIPE | 1989 12.3% | 2024 13.5% |
| Median household incomeCensus SAIPE | 1989 $23,588 | 2024 $74,040 |
The table uses 3.4% for 2025; the score uses 3.3% for the latest year (Oct 2025 to Sep 2026), both from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Figures are as each agency published them, not adjusted for prices.
Dated events in Washington County's history
1848
Created as Arkansas's 17th county on November 30, 1848. Wikipedia
1970
A tornado in June 1970 did $2.5 million in property damage and killed one person. NOAA Storm Events Database
2003
Hail in July 2003 did $50 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2010
A tornado in December 2010 did $1.5 million in property damage and killed four people. NOAA Storm Events Database
2020
The county's largest recorded population was the 2020 Census count of 245,871, which is also its most recent census. Census Bureau
2022
A tornado in March 2022 did $20 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
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Since 1969
20 federal disaster and emergency declarations have covered Washington County, 10 of them for flooding. FEMA
Washington County beside its neighbors
Of the four counties that border Washington County, in Arkansas and Oklahoma, three score higher. For the share of income from benefit checks, Washington County ranks 4th of the five; Adair County is highest, at 38.5%.
| County | Score | Poverty | Benefit checks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adair County, OK | 95 | 22.4% | 38.5% |
| Crawford County, AR | 71 | 14.1% | 30.9% |
| Madison County, AR | 56 | 12.9% | 27.1% |
| Washington County, AR | 41 | 13.5% | 16.7% |
| Benton County, AR | 14 | 8.4% | 7.6% |
Distress score: American Default Research, County Distress Index, data through Sep 2026; each county scored against all 3,144. Poverty rate: Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates, 2024. Benefit checks: Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024. Neighbors share a border, from Census county maps.
Is Washington County the poorest county in Arkansas?
No, Washington County's poverty rate was 13.5% in 2024, 66th highest of 75 in Arkansas (U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates). By that measure the poorest county in the state is Lee County, at 41.3%. On our distress index, which counts more than poverty, Washington County ranks 73rd of 75 in the state.
If you're behind on your mortgage in Washington County
Housing counselors approved by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development work at nonprofit agencies. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau describes free foreclosure-avoidance counseling, including help with mortgage-company conversations and available options Source CFPB.
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Credit Counseling of Arkansas
HUD-approved housing counselor
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Legal Aid of Arkansas
Legal aid
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HUD-approved housing counselors
Our help directory lists 1,010 agencies approved for foreclosure counseling, by state.
The score, its 14 measures and their sources, in one file. Free to use with credit to American Default Research.
Download the CSV for Washington County · Every U.S. county (CSV)
Sources and method
- American Default Research · County Distress Index Data through Sep 2026, built from Urban Institute, Debt in America; Equifax via the St. Louis Fed; U.S. Courts, Table F-5A; Census Bureau, American Community Survey; HUD Fair Market Rents and Census income; Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates. The County Distress Index is American Default Research's own calculation; the Urban Institute does not produce or endorse it. Our methodology
- Urban Institute · Debt in America Breno Braga, Signe-Mary McKernan, Samantha Atherton, and Kassandra Martinchek, "Debt in America," last updated November 20, 2025, https://datacatalog.urban.org/dataset/debt-america-2025. Licensed under ODC-By 1.0.
- Rent on a two-bedroom and household income The rent share compares HUD fair market rent for fiscal year 2027 with Census Bureau median household income for 2024. The page calls this the typical household's income.
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Economic Accounts (CAINC4) · income shares Where the money in Washington County comes from, 2024.
- History The agencies named in each row and the linked records above.