“Counties like it” are non-metro counties with a similar population and a median household income near Newton County's ($46,307). 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 4: life expectancy, children in poverty, food insecurity, households with broadband internet.
| Measure | Newton County | Typical similar county |
|---|---|---|
| Population change, 2020–2024 | -2.4% 7,196 → 7,026 | -1.0% |
| School spending per student (day-to-day costs) | $15,080 | $15,394 |
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, Newton County's general fund held $3,670,938 — enough to cover about 17.7 months of that year's spending. Five years earlier (2020) it held $2,995,114. Among the 75 Arkansas counties whose state audits include this five-year schedule, that ranks 20 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 $46,307 here). Comparing with them, instead of the whole country, shows what similar places have managed. Newton County is furthest behind on residents per mental health provider, jail population per 100,000 residents 15–64, households with severe housing problems.
| Measure | Newton County | Typical similar county | Doing best among similar counties |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy about the same | 73.6 years | 71.7 years | Presidio County, TX 81.3 years Harrison County, MO 77.1 years Saguache County, CO 77.1 years |
| Adults under 65 without health insurance ahead of similar counties | 9.1% | 13.2% | Elliott County, KY 5.1% Pulaski County, IL 5.9% Menifee County, KY 6.7% |
| Residents per mental health provider behind similar counties | 2,357 | 1,307 | Quay County, NM 72 Galax city, VA 108 Johnston County, OK 112 |
| Children in poverty about the same | 27.1% | 30.3% | Harrison County, MO 20.5% Grundy County, MO 21.4% Pondera County, MT 21.9% |
| Food insecurity about the same | 17.1% | 18.8% | Gilmer County, WV 11.6% Covington city, VA 13.6% Emporia city, VA 14.1% |
| Households with severe housing problems behind similar counties | 15.3% | 12.2% | Calhoun County, WV 6.3% Carter County, MO 6.6% Pickett County, TN 7.2% |
| Unemployment ahead of similar counties | 3.4% | 4.1% | La Salle County, TX 2.6% Miller County, GA 2.7% Choctaw County, MS 2.7% |
| Households with broadband internet about the same | 78.5% | 76.2% | Galax city, VA 86.6% McCulloch County, TX 86.1% Saguache County, CO 85.7% |
| Jail population per 100,000 residents 15–64 behind similar counties | 821 | 577 | Iron County, MO 169 Montmorency County, MI 178 Montgomery County, AR 181 |
| Bridges rated poor ahead of similar counties | 3.1% | 3.7% | Floyd County, TX 0.0% Haskell County, TX 0.0% Presidio County, TX 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.