“Counties like it” are metro-area counties with a similar population and a median household income near Washington County's ($66,158). Ahead or behind means more than 15% better or worse than the typical one.
Ahead of similar counties on 4 measures:
Behind similar counties on 4 measures:
About the same on 4: life expectancy, residents per primary care doctor, households with severe housing problems, households with broadband internet.
| Measure | Washington County | Typical similar county |
|---|---|---|
| Population change, 2020–2024 | 7.9% 246,779 → 266,184 | 2.8% |
| School spending per student (day-to-day costs) | $12,103 | $13,694 |
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 2023, Washington County's general fund held $42,383,697 — enough to cover about 12.2 months of that year's spending. Five years earlier (2019) it held $19,325,366. Among the 75 Arkansas counties whose state audits include this five-year schedule, that ranks 32 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 in a metro area with a similar number of people and a similar median household income (about $66,158 here). Comparing with them, instead of the whole country, shows what similar places have managed. Washington County is furthest behind on adults under 65 without health insurance, bridges rated poor, jail population per 100,000 residents 15–64.
| Measure | Washington County | Typical similar county | Doing best among similar counties |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drug overdose deaths per 100,000 ahead of similar counties | 11.2 | 35.3 | Smith County, TX 10.2 McLennan County, TX 11.9 Lee County, AL 12.0 |
| Life expectancy about the same | 76.8 years | 75.4 years | Lancaster County, NE 79.1 years Charlotte County, FL 78.8 years Champaign County, IL 78.8 years |
| Adults under 65 without health insurance behind similar counties | 14.0% | 9.1% | Niagara County, NY 4.4% Oneida County, NY 4.5% Westmoreland County, PA 4.7% |
| Residents per primary care doctor about the same | 1,250 | 1,315 | Alachua County, FL 643 Buncombe County, NC 711 Peoria County, IL 748 |
| Residents per mental health provider ahead of similar counties | 233 | 372 | Lane County, OR 86 Buncombe County, NC 112 Butte County, CA 113 |
| Children in poverty ahead of similar counties | 13.5% | 17.9% | Lancaster County, NE 9.0% Boone County, MO 12.1% Canyon County, ID 12.2% |
| Food insecurity behind similar counties | 16.6% | 14.1% | Canyon County, ID 11.4% St. Louis County, MN 11.5% St. Clair County, IL 11.7% |
| Households with severe housing problems about the same | 15.6% | 14.9% | Westmoreland County, PA 9.9% Stark County, OH 10.7% Davidson County, NC 11.4% |
| Unemployment ahead of similar counties | 2.3% | 3.5% | Lancaster County, NE 2.1% Lee County, AL 2.3% Tuscaloosa County, AL 2.3% |
| Households with broadband internet about the same | 89.1% | 88.7% | Canyon County, ID 92.8% Onslow County, NC 92.2% Lancaster County, NE 92.2% |
| Jail population per 100,000 residents 15–64 behind similar counties | 434 | 321 | St. Louis County, MN 75 Lane County, OR 132 Ingham County, MI 150 |
| Bridges rated poor behind similar counties | 6.7% | 4.5% | Newport News city, VA 0.0% Hernando County, FL 0.0% Norfolk city, VA 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.