How Prairie County compares

Prairie County measured against counties like it across the country, and against the other counties in Arkansas — health, money, jobs, housing, the jail, bridges, people, schools and county finances. Every figure is computed from public data and cited; “ahead” and “behind” are measured differences, not grades. For what other places have tried on each measure, see what has worked.

In short — beside 137 counties like it

“Counties like it” are non-metro counties with a similar population and a median household income near Prairie County's ($54,962). Ahead or behind means more than 15% better or worse than the typical one.

Ahead of similar counties on 2 measures:

households with severe housing problems: 6.5% here, 11.4% for the typical similar county
adults under 65 without health insurance: 9.0% here, 11.6% for the typical similar county

Behind similar counties on 4 measures:

jail population per 100,000 residents 15–64: 922 here, 407 for the typical similar county
residents per primary care doctor: 8,135 here, 2,344 for the typical similar county
residents per mental health provider: 4,018 here, 1,418 for the typical similar county
bridges rated poor: 9.1% here, 6.1% for the typical similar county

About the same on 5: life expectancy, children in poverty, food insecurity, unemployment, households with broadband internet.

People and schools — beside the same similar counties

Measure	Prairie County	Typical similar county
Population change, 2020–2024	-3.8% 8,247 → 7,935	-0.0%
School spending per student (day-to-day costs)	$12,159	$15,101

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.

County finances — the general fund, beside Arkansas's other counties

At the end of 2024, Prairie County's general fund held $287,870 — enough to cover about 1.3 months of that year's spending. Five years earlier (2020) it held $667,703. Among the 75 Arkansas counties whose state audits include this five-year schedule, that ranks 74 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.

How Prairie County compares — beside 137 counties like it

“Counties like it” means other counties outside metro areas with a similar number of people and a similar median household income (about $54,962 here). Comparing with them, instead of the whole country, shows what similar places have managed. Prairie County is furthest behind on jail population per 100,000 residents 15–64, residents per primary care doctor, residents per mental health provider.

Measure	Prairie County	Typical similar county	Doing best among similar counties
Life expectancy about the same	72.8 years	74.0 years	Brewster County, TX 79.7 years Washington County, KS 79.6 years Iron County, WI 79.0 years
Adults under 65 without health insurance ahead of similar counties	9.0%	11.6%	Essex County, VT 5.2% Lucas County, IA 5.4% Tyler County, WV 5.6%
Residents per primary care doctor behind similar counties	8,135	2,344	Prince of Wales-Hyder Census Area, AK 573 Childress County, TX 674 Clearwater County, ID 741
Residents per mental health provider behind similar counties	4,018	1,418	Prince of Wales-Hyder Census Area, AK 100 Johnston County, OK 112 Harney County, OR 118
Children in poverty about the same	22.4%	22.0%	Washington County, KS 12.1% Chariton County, MO 13.2% Brown County, KS 13.4%
Food insecurity about the same	16.7%	15.8%	Cumberland County, VA 9.3% Taylor County, IA 9.9% Greensville County, VA 10.3%
Households with severe housing problems ahead of similar counties	6.5%	11.4%	Doddridge County, WV 5.0% Tyler County, WV 5.4% Cleveland County, AR 5.5%
Unemployment about the same	3.1%	3.4%	Tripp County, SD 1.6% Kit Carson County, CO 1.8% Keith County, NE 1.8%
Households with broadband internet about the same	72.4%	80.8%	Norton County, KS 92.6% Sherman County, KS 91.8% Cheyenne County, NE 91.4%
Jail population per 100,000 residents 15–64 behind similar counties	922	407	Coosa County, AL 32 Alcona County, MI 73 Cleveland County, AR 111
Bridges rated poor behind similar counties	9.1%	6.1%	Haskell County, TX 0.0% Delta County, TX 0.0% Miller 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.

How Prairie County compares — against the other counties in Arkansas

7,935 — people: 67th highest of 75 Arkansas counties.
$12,159 — spending per student in its school districts: 46th highest of 75 Arkansas counties.
72.8 years — life expectancy: 33rd highest of 75 Arkansas counties.
9.0% — share of adults under 65 without health insurance: 54th highest of 75 Arkansas counties.
22.4% — child poverty: 51st highest of 75 Arkansas counties.
72.4% — households with broadband internet: 66th highest of 75 Arkansas counties.
$54,962 — median household income: 19th highest of 75 Arkansas counties.
$909 a month — two-bedroom fair market rent: 67th highest of 75 Arkansas counties.
9.1% — share of bridges rated poor: 15th highest of 75 Arkansas counties.
$1,040 — federal grant dollars per resident: 12th highest of 75 Arkansas counties.
$9.0 million — expected yearly losses from natural hazards: 54th highest of 75 Arkansas counties.

“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.