How Grant County compares

Grant 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 65 counties like it

“Counties like it” are metro-area counties with a similar population and a median household income near Grant County's ($64,306). Ahead or behind means more than 15% better or worse than the typical one.

Ahead of similar counties on 6 measures:

residents per mental health provider: 766 here, 1,295 for the typical similar county
bridges rated poor: 2.5% here, 5.5% for the typical similar county
children in poverty: 13.6% here, 18.8% for the typical similar county
adults under 65 without health insurance: 7.1% here, 9.1% for the typical similar county
unemployment: 2.9% here, 3.5% for the typical similar county
households with severe housing problems: 9.3% here, 11.3% for the typical similar county

Behind similar counties on 3 measures:

residents per primary care doctor: 9,045 here, 3,265 for the typical similar county
food insecurity: 17.5% here, 14.2% for the typical similar county
jail population per 100,000 residents 15–64: 542 here, 442 for the typical similar county

About the same on 2: life expectancy, households with broadband internet.

People and schools — beside the same similar counties

Measure	Grant County	Typical similar county
Population change, 2020–2024	2.9% 18,019 → 18,546	2.8%
School spending per student (day-to-day costs)	$10,143	$13,681

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, Grant County's general fund held $4,586,430 — enough to cover about 9.9 months of that year's spending. Five years earlier (2020) it held $2,758,225. Among the 75 Arkansas counties whose state audits include this five-year schedule, that ranks 41 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 Grant County compares — beside 65 counties like it

“Counties like it” means other counties in a metro area with a similar number of people and a similar median household income (about $64,306 here). Comparing with them, instead of the whole country, shows what similar places have managed. Grant County is furthest behind on residents per primary care doctor, food insecurity, jail population per 100,000 residents 15–64.

Measure	Grant County	Typical similar county	Doing best among similar counties
Life expectancy about the same	73.3 years	74.2 years	Fillmore County, MN 79.6 years Williamsburg city, VA 78.6 years Appomattox County, VA 77.2 years
Adults under 65 without health insurance ahead of similar counties	7.1%	9.1%	Jersey County, IL 5.2% Wyoming County, PA 5.2% Salem city, VA 5.5%
Residents per primary care doctor behind similar counties	9,045	3,265	Winchester city, VA 391 Salem city, VA 725 Colonial Heights city, VA 794
Residents per mental health provider ahead of similar counties	766	1,295	Salem city, VA 114 Winchester city, VA 122 Staunton city, VA 128
Children in poverty ahead of similar counties	13.6%	18.8%	Fillmore County, MN 12.2% Harrison County, IA 12.6% Mille Lacs County, MN 12.8%
Food insecurity behind similar counties	17.5%	14.2%	Fillmore County, MN 9.0% Harrison County, IA 9.8% Morgan County, WV 10.8%
Households with severe housing problems ahead of similar counties	9.3%	11.3%	Callahan County, TX 6.7% Clay County, IN 7.2% St. James Parish, LA 7.2%
Unemployment ahead of similar counties	2.9%	3.5%	Moniteau County, MO 2.6% Dade County, GA 2.6% Floyd County, VA 2.6%
Households with broadband internet about the same	85.5%	83.7%	Benzie County, MI 92.0% Long County, GA 89.8% Williamsburg city, VA 89.7%
Jail population per 100,000 residents 15–64 behind similar counties	542	442	Carroll County, OH 80 Fillmore County, MN 88 Harrison County, IA 122
Bridges rated poor ahead of similar counties	2.5%	5.5%	Callahan County, TX 0.0% Floyd County, VA 0.0% Sequatchie County, TN 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 Grant County compares — against the other counties in Arkansas

18,546 — people: 37th highest of 75 Arkansas counties.
$10,143 — spending per student in its school districts: 74th highest of 75 Arkansas counties.
73.3 years — life expectancy: 27th highest of 75 Arkansas counties.
7.1% — share of adults under 65 without health insurance: the lowest of 75 Arkansas counties.
13.6% — child poverty: 71st highest of 75 Arkansas counties.
85.5% — households with broadband internet: 14th highest of 75 Arkansas counties.
$64,306 — median household income: 6th highest of 75 Arkansas counties.
$909 a month — two-bedroom fair market rent: 46th highest of 75 Arkansas counties.
2.5% — share of bridges rated poor: 60th highest of 75 Arkansas counties.
$389 — federal grant dollars per resident: 41st highest of 75 Arkansas counties.
$6.1 million — expected yearly losses from natural hazards: 68th 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.