“Counties like it” are non-metro counties with a similar population and a median household income near Marion County's ($49,975). Ahead or behind means more than 15% better or worse than the typical one.
Ahead of similar counties on 1 measure:
Behind similar counties on 2 measures:
About the same on 8: life expectancy, residents per primary care doctor, children in poverty, food insecurity, households with severe housing problems, unemployment, households with broadband internet, bridges rated poor.
| Measure | Marion County | Typical similar county |
|---|---|---|
| Population change, 2020–2024 | 4.3% 16,867 → 17,593 | -0.1% |
| School spending per student (day-to-day costs) | $12,961 | $13,522 |
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, Marion County's general fund held $4,441,008 — enough to cover about 27.0 months of that year's spending. Five years earlier (2020) it held $1,488,558. Among the 75 Arkansas counties whose state audits include this five-year schedule, that ranks 4 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 $49,975 here). Comparing with them, instead of the whole country, shows what similar places have managed. Marion County is furthest behind on residents per mental health provider, jail population per 100,000 residents 15–64.
| Measure | Marion County | Typical similar county | Doing best among similar counties |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy about the same | 73.7 years | 72.1 years | Presque Isle County, MI 77.6 years Trinity County, CA 77.0 years Clay County, NC 76.8 years |
| Adults under 65 without health insurance ahead of similar counties | 10.0% | 11.8% | Appanoose County, IA 5.6% Clay County, IL 5.9% Trinity County, CA 6.0% |
| Residents per primary care doctor about the same | 3,396 | 3,133 | Ashland County, WI 575 Northampton County, VA 930 Fayette County, AL 1,009 |
| Residents per mental health provider behind similar counties | 8,757 | 1,069 | Alamosa County, CO 66 Atoka County, OK 90 Colfax County, NM 98 |
| Children in poverty about the same | 26.0% | 25.4% | Hardy County, WV 16.4% Ashland County, WI 16.9% Marion County, KY 17.3% |
| Food insecurity about the same | 20.6% | 18.2% | Brunswick County, VA 11.7% Hill County, MT 12.5% Abbeville County, SC 12.8% |
| Households with severe housing problems about the same | 13.5% | 12.2% | Monroe County, WV 5.2% Winn Parish, LA 6.3% Lincoln County, AR 7.1% |
| Unemployment about the same | 4.1% | 3.9% | Clay County, AL 2.4% Hill County, MT 2.5% Arkansas County, AR 2.7% |
| Households with broadband internet about the same | 86.3% | 79.5% | Rowan County, KY 92.1% Alamosa County, CO 89.7% Newton County, TX 89.2% |
| Jail population per 100,000 residents 15–64 behind similar counties | 720 | 450 | Barbour County, AL 39 Jackson County, AR 90 Glacier County, MT 97 |
| Bridges rated poor about the same | 4.5% | 5.0% | Morris County, TX 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.