“Counties like it” are non-metro counties with a similar population and a median household income near Pike County's ($53,108). 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, children in poverty, unemployment, households with broadband internet, bridges rated poor.
| Measure | Pike County | Typical similar county |
|---|---|---|
| Population change, 2020–2024 | -1.3% 10,156 → 10,027 | 0.1% |
| School spending per student (day-to-day costs) | $13,226 | $14,352 |
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, Pike County's general fund held $3,541,212 — enough to cover about 10.4 months of that year's spending. Five years earlier (2020) it held $2,055,192. Among the 75 Arkansas counties whose state audits include this five-year schedule, that ranks 39 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 $53,108 here). Comparing with them, instead of the whole country, shows what similar places have managed. Pike County is furthest behind on jail population per 100,000 residents 15–64, residents per mental health provider, food insecurity.
| Measure | Pike County | Typical similar county | Doing best among similar counties |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy about the same | 71.6 years | 72.9 years | Glades County, FL 80.0 years Brewster County, TX 79.7 years Presque Isle County, MI 77.6 years |
| Adults under 65 without health insurance ahead of similar counties | 10.7% | 12.6% | Appanoose County, IA 5.6% Decatur County, IA 5.8% Greensville County, VA 5.9% |
| Residents per primary care doctor ahead of similar counties | 2,517 | 3,143 | Brewster County, TX 787 Ferry County, WA 909 Franklin city, VA 913 |
| Residents per mental health provider behind similar counties | 2,042 | 1,141 | Atoka County, OK 90 Colfax County, NM 98 Johnston County, OK 112 |
| Children in poverty about the same | 27.2% | 24.3% | Chariton County, MO 13.2% Deer Lodge County, MT 14.1% Kingman County, KS 15.2% |
| Food insecurity behind similar counties | 20.1% | 17.1% | Cumberland County, VA 9.3% Greensville County, VA 10.3% Grant County, WV 11.6% |
| Households with severe housing problems ahead of similar counties | 9.4% | 11.9% | Doddridge County, WV 5.0% Cleveland County, AR 5.5% Carroll County, MO 6.0% |
| Unemployment about the same | 3.5% | 3.8% | Kit Carson County, CO 1.8% Keith County, NE 1.8% Woods County, OK 1.9% |
| Households with broadband internet about the same | 77.8% | 80.2% | Franklin city, VA 90.1% Newton County, TX 89.2% Kit Carson County, CO 88.7% |
| Jail population per 100,000 residents 15–64 behind similar counties | 793 | 411 | Alcona County, MI 73 Glacier County, MT 97 Cleveland County, AR 111 |
| Bridges rated poor about the same | 5.3% | 5.6% | Swisher County, TX 0.0% Castro County, TX 0.0% McCulloch 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.