“Counties like it” are non-metro counties with a similar population and a median household income near Hempstead County's ($50,576). 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 2 measures:
About the same on 7: life expectancy, adults under 65 without health insurance, children in poverty, food insecurity, households with severe housing problems, unemployment, households with broadband internet.
| Measure | Hempstead County | Typical similar county |
|---|---|---|
| Population change, 2020–2024 | -4.4% 19,986 → 19,105 | 0.5% |
| School spending per student (day-to-day costs) | $13,513 | $13,549 |
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, Hempstead County's general fund held $3,660,972 — enough to cover about 9.0 months of that year's spending. Five years earlier (2020) it held $3,039,924. Among the 75 Arkansas counties whose state audits include this five-year schedule, that ranks 45 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 $50,576 here). Comparing with them, instead of the whole country, shows what similar places have managed. Hempstead County is furthest behind on jail population per 100,000 residents 15–64, residents per primary care doctor.
| Measure | Hempstead County | Typical similar county | Doing best among similar counties |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy about the same | 73.3 years | 72.2 years | Glades County, FL 80.0 years Presque Isle County, MI 77.6 years Wadena County, MN 77.1 years |
| Adults under 65 without health insurance about the same | 10.7% | 12.2% | Clay County, IL 5.9% McDonough County, IL 6.0% Trinity County, CA 6.0% |
| Residents per primary care doctor behind similar counties | 3,939 | 2,973 | Ashland County, WI 575 Fayette County, AL 1,009 Drew County, AR 1,069 |
| Residents per mental health provider ahead of similar counties | 879 | 1,014 | Alamosa County, CO 66 Pike County, OH 74 Atoka County, OK 90 |
| Children in poverty about the same | 25.8% | 25.0% | Wadena County, MN 15.3% Logan County, CO 15.7% Hardy County, WV 16.4% |
| Food insecurity about the same | 19.3% | 18.0% | Brunswick County, VA 11.7% Wadena County, MN 12.0% Hill County, MT 12.5% |
| Households with severe housing problems about the same | 13.4% | 12.3% | Winn Parish, LA 6.3% Lawrence County, IL 6.7% Lincoln County, AR 7.1% |
| Unemployment about the same | 3.4% | 4.0% | Union County, MS 2.3% Clay County, AL 2.4% Hill County, MT 2.5% |
| Households with broadband internet about the same | 76.2% | 79.9% | Rowan County, KY 92.1% Curry County, OR 89.9% Custer County, OK 89.9% |
| Jail population per 100,000 residents 15–64 behind similar counties | 567 | 445 | Jackson County, AR 90 Glacier County, MT 97 Ohio County, KY 109 |
| Bridges rated poor ahead of similar counties | 3.5% | 4.9% | Glades County, FL 0.0% Camp County, TX 0.0% Jefferson 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.