“Counties like it” are non-metro counties with a similar population and a median household income near Clay County's ($47,663). Ahead or behind means more than 15% better or worse than the typical one.
Ahead of similar counties on 3 measures:
Behind similar counties on 3 measures:
About the same on 5: life expectancy, residents per mental health provider, food insecurity, unemployment, households with broadband internet.
| Measure | Clay County | Typical similar county |
|---|---|---|
| Population change, 2020–2024 | -2.9% 14,534 → 14,112 | -0.2% |
| School spending per student (day-to-day costs) | $11,952 | $13,940 |
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, Clay County's general fund held $3,602,927 — enough to cover about 10.6 months of that year's spending. Five years earlier (2020) it held $1,644,023. Among the 75 Arkansas counties whose state audits include this five-year schedule, that ranks 37 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 $47,663 here). Comparing with them, instead of the whole country, shows what similar places have managed. Clay County is furthest behind on bridges rated poor, jail population per 100,000 residents 15–64, residents per primary care doctor.
| Measure | Clay County | Typical similar county | Doing best among similar counties |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy about the same | 72.8 years | 71.7 years | Alleghany County, NC 77.3 years Mackinac County, MI 77.2 years Trinity County, CA 77.0 years |
| Adults under 65 without health insurance ahead of similar counties | 9.6% | 12.2% | Trinity County, CA 6.0% Gogebic County, MI 6.1% Powell County, KY 6.2% |
| Residents per primary care doctor behind similar counties | 14,350 | 3,344 | Ashland County, WI 575 Alleghany County, NC 1,004 Fayette County, AL 1,009 |
| Residents per mental health provider about the same | 1,014 | 1,125 | Alamosa County, CO 66 Atoka County, OK 90 Pushmataha County, OK 97 |
| Children in poverty ahead of similar counties | 22.3% | 27.4% | Hardy County, WV 16.4% Ashland County, WI 16.9% Tishomingo County, MS 18.1% |
| Food insecurity about the same | 20.7% | 18.6% | Brunswick County, VA 11.7% Hill County, MT 12.5% Lunenburg County, VA 12.9% |
| Households with severe housing problems ahead of similar counties | 9.8% | 12.6% | Monroe County, WV 5.2% Conecuh County, AL 6.3% Winn Parish, LA 6.3% |
| Unemployment about the same | 4.1% | 3.9% | Clay County, AL 2.4% Candler County, GA 2.5% Hill County, MT 2.5% |
| Households with broadband internet about the same | 78.7% | 78.6% | Alamosa County, CO 89.7% Newton County, TX 89.2% Mississippi County, MO 86.9% |
| Jail population per 100,000 residents 15–64 behind similar counties | 797 | 450 | Jackson County, AR 90 Glacier County, MT 97 Mackinac County, MI 158 |
| Bridges rated poor behind similar counties | 10.4% | 5.1% | Montmorency County, MI 0.0% Pulaski County, GA 0.0% Early 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.