“Counties like it” are non-metro counties with a similar population and a median household income near Chicot County's ($40,381). Ahead or behind means more than 15% better or worse than the typical one.
Ahead of similar counties on 3 measures:
Behind similar counties on 2 measures:
About the same on 6: life expectancy, adults under 65 without health insurance, children in poverty, food insecurity, households with severe housing problems, households with broadband internet.
| Measure | Chicot County | Typical similar county |
|---|---|---|
| Population change, 2020–2024 | -8.7% 10,159 → 9,272 | -3.3% |
| School spending per student (day-to-day costs) | $16,826 | $15,430 |
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, Chicot County's general fund held $1,895,946 — enough to cover about 7.7 months of that year's spending. Five years earlier (2020) it held $1,655,125. Among the 75 Arkansas counties whose state audits include this five-year schedule, that ranks 54 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 $40,381 here). Comparing with them, instead of the whole country, shows what similar places have managed. Chicot County is furthest behind on bridges rated poor, unemployment.
| Measure | Chicot County | Typical similar county | Doing best among similar counties |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy about the same | 69.8 years | 70.8 years | Wheeler County, GA 76.5 years Elliott County, KY 76.3 years Kemper County, MS 75.7 years |
| Adults under 65 without health insurance about the same | 10.6% | 12.2% | Elliott County, KY 5.1% Leslie County, KY 5.4% Metcalfe County, KY 6.4% |
| Residents per primary care doctor ahead of similar counties | 1,670 | 3,735 | Sumter County, AL 1,738 Clinton County, KY 1,853 Pocahontas County, WV 1,960 |
| Residents per mental health provider ahead of similar counties | 173 | 1,497 | Quay County, NM 72 Latimer County, OK 140 Bienville Parish, LA 325 |
| Children in poverty about the same | 37.2% | 36.5% | Douglas County, MO 24.0% Gilmer County, WV 24.4% Pocahontas County, WV 24.8% |
| Food insecurity about the same | 21.2% | 20.3% | Gilmer County, WV 11.6% Early County, GA 14.9% Bamberg County, SC 15.0% |
| Households with severe housing problems about the same | 14.6% | 13.7% | Jefferson County, MS 7.3% Gilmer County, WV 7.8% Kiowa County, OK 8.1% |
| Unemployment behind similar counties | 5.8% | 4.7% | Tallahatchie County, MS 3.3% Douglas County, MO 3.3% Oregon County, MO 3.5% |
| Households with broadband internet about the same | 77.6% | 75.5% | Jefferson County, MS 87.2% Terry County, TX 86.5% Fulton County, KY 85.8% |
| Jail population per 100,000 residents 15–64 ahead of similar counties | 174 | 553 | Monroe County, AR 105 Bamberg County, SC 166 Lee County, AR 207 |
| Bridges rated poor behind similar counties | 10.2% | 5.1% | Brooks County, TX 0.0% Wheeler County, GA 0.0% Jenkins County, GA 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.