“Counties like it” are non-metro counties with a similar population and a median household income near Howard County's ($47,308). Ahead or behind means more than 15% better or worse than the typical one.
Ahead of similar counties on 5 measures:
About the same on 6: life expectancy, adults under 65 without health insurance, food insecurity, households with severe housing problems, unemployment, households with broadband internet.
| Measure | Howard County | Typical similar county |
|---|---|---|
| Population change, 2020–2024 | -2.9% 12,758 → 12,387 | -0.3% |
| School spending per student (day-to-day costs) | $13,278 | $13,989 |
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, Howard County's general fund held $4,755,311 — enough to cover about 20.3 months of that year's spending. Five years earlier (2020) it held $2,134,143. Among the 75 Arkansas counties whose state audits include this five-year schedule, that ranks 10 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 $47,308 here). Comparing with them, instead of the whole country, shows what similar places have managed.
| Measure | Howard County | Typical similar county | Doing best among similar counties |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy about the same | 72.4 years | 71.6 years | Alleghany County, NC 77.3 years Mackinac County, MI 77.2 years Gogebic County, MI 76.6 years |
| Adults under 65 without health insurance about the same | 10.4% | 12.2% | Gogebic County, MI 6.1% Powell County, KY 6.2% Rockcastle County, KY 6.8% |
| Residents per primary care doctor ahead of similar counties | 2,116 | 3,478 | Alleghany County, NC 1,004 Fayette County, AL 1,009 Drew County, AR 1,069 |
| Residents per mental health provider ahead of similar counties | 627 | 1,137 | Alamosa County, CO 66 Quay County, NM 72 Atoka County, OK 90 |
| Children in poverty ahead of similar counties | 22.5% | 27.9% | Tishomingo County, MS 18.1% Blackford County, IN 18.8% Mackinac County, MI 19.2% |
| Food insecurity about the same | 18.0% | 18.6% | Brunswick County, VA 11.7% Hill County, MT 12.5% Lunenburg County, VA 12.9% |
| Households with severe housing problems about the same | 11.7% | 12.4% | Monroe County, WV 5.2% Conecuh County, AL 6.3% Winn Parish, LA 6.3% |
| Unemployment about the same | 3.5% | 4.0% | Candler County, GA 2.5% Hill County, MT 2.5% Arkansas County, AR 2.7% |
| Households with broadband internet about the same | 77.1% | 77.8% | Alamosa County, CO 89.7% Newton County, TX 89.2% Mississippi County, MO 86.9% |
| Jail population per 100,000 residents 15–64 ahead of similar counties | 367 | 502 | Jackson County, AR 90 Glacier County, MT 97 Mackinac County, MI 158 |
| Bridges rated poor ahead of similar counties | 3.4% | 5.3% | Wilkinson County, GA 0.0% Wilcox County, GA 0.0% Turner 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.