“Counties like it” are non-metro counties with a similar population and a median household income near Jackson County's ($45,762). Ahead or behind means more than 15% better or worse than the typical one.
Ahead of similar counties on 4 measures:
Behind similar counties on 2 measures:
About the same on 5: life expectancy, children in poverty, food insecurity, households with severe housing problems, households with broadband internet.
| Measure | Jackson County | Typical similar county |
|---|---|---|
| Population change, 2020–2024 | -0.5% 16,759 → 16,673 | -1.3% |
| School spending per student (day-to-day costs) | $12,578 | $13,806 |
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, Jackson County's general fund held $5,390,488 — enough to cover about 14.8 months of that year's spending. Five years earlier (2020) it held $2,625,214. Among the 75 Arkansas counties whose state audits include this five-year schedule, that ranks 25 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 $45,762 here). Comparing with them, instead of the whole country, shows what similar places have managed. Jackson County is furthest behind on bridges rated poor, unemployment.
| Measure | Jackson County | Typical similar county | Doing best among similar counties |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy about the same | 70.5 years | 71.1 years | Alleghany County, NC 77.3 years Gogebic County, MI 76.6 years Barton County, MO 75.4 years |
| Adults under 65 without health insurance ahead of similar counties | 9.2% | 11.9% | Gogebic County, MI 6.1% Powell County, KY 6.2% Johnson County, KY 6.7% |
| Residents per primary care doctor ahead of similar counties | 2,802 | 3,285 | Alleghany County, NC 1,004 Fayette County, AL 1,009 Drew County, AR 1,069 |
| Residents per mental health provider ahead of similar counties | 932 | 1,076 | Alamosa County, CO 66 Atoka County, OK 90 Choctaw County, OK 121 |
| Children in poverty about the same | 32.0% | 28.0% | Tishomingo County, MS 18.1% Monroe County, WV 20.5% Labette County, KS 20.7% |
| Food insecurity about the same | 21.6% | 19.0% | Hampton County, SC 13.4% Monroe County, WV 13.5% Washington County, GA 13.8% |
| Households with severe housing problems about the same | 12.2% | 12.5% | Monroe County, WV 5.2% Winn Parish, LA 6.3% Braxton County, WV 7.7% |
| Unemployment behind similar counties | 5.1% | 4.1% | Candler County, GA 2.5% Arkansas County, AR 2.7% Crenshaw County, AL 2.7% |
| Households with broadband internet about the same | 77.3% | 78.3% | Alamosa County, CO 89.7% Mississippi County, MO 86.9% Terry County, TX 86.5% |
| Jail population per 100,000 residents 15–64 ahead of similar counties | 90 | 470 | Barbour County, AL 39 Bamberg County, SC 166 St. Francis County, AR 190 |
| Bridges rated poor behind similar counties | 7.4% | 5.8% | Candler County, GA 0.0% Lawrence County, MS 0.0% Macon 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.