“Counties like it” are non-metro counties with a similar population and a median household income near Monroe County's ($40,631). Ahead or behind means more than 15% better or worse than the typical one.
Ahead of similar counties on 2 measures:
Behind similar counties on 2 measures:
About the same on 7: life expectancy, adults under 65 without health insurance, children in poverty, food insecurity, households with severe housing problems, unemployment, households with broadband internet.
| Measure | Monroe County | Typical similar county |
|---|---|---|
| Population change, 2020–2024 | -5.3% 6,771 → 6,415 | -2.7% |
| School spending per student (day-to-day costs) | $15,410 | $15,709 |
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, Monroe County's general fund held $1,908,032 — enough to cover about 9.5 months of that year's spending. Five years earlier (2020) it held $1,388,242. Among the 75 Arkansas counties whose state audits include this five-year schedule, that ranks 44 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 $40,631 here). Comparing with them, instead of the whole country, shows what similar places have managed. Monroe County is furthest behind on residents per mental health provider, bridges rated poor.
| Measure | Monroe County | Typical similar county | Doing best among similar counties |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy about the same | 68.8 years | 71.7 years | Presidio County, TX 81.3 years Wheeler County, GA 76.5 years Elliott County, KY 76.3 years |
| Adults under 65 without health insurance about the same | 11.1% | 12.8% | Elliott County, KY 5.1% Lee County, KY 6.7% Fulton County, KY 6.8% |
| Residents per primary care doctor ahead of similar counties | 2,228 | 3,735 | Chicot County, AR 1,670 Clinton County, KY 1,853 Cumberland County, KY 1,960 |
| Residents per mental health provider behind similar counties | 3,256 | 1,507 | Guadalupe County, NM 59 Quay County, NM 72 Latimer County, OK 140 |
| Children in poverty about the same | 38.1% | 35.5% | Gilmer County, WV 24.4% Pocahontas County, WV 24.8% Oregon County, MO 27.6% |
| Food insecurity about the same | 20.3% | 19.6% | Gilmer County, WV 11.6% Calhoun County, GA 16.0% Pocahontas County, WV 16.2% |
| Households with severe housing problems about the same | 14.4% | 13.3% | Carter County, MO 6.6% Jefferson County, MS 7.3% Gilmer County, WV 7.8% |
| Unemployment about the same | 3.9% | 4.6% | Calhoun County, GA 2.8% Reynolds County, MO 3.4% Cumberland County, KY 3.4% |
| Households with broadband internet about the same | 75.5% | 76.8% | Jefferson County, MS 87.2% Fulton County, KY 85.8% Kiowa County, OK 83.9% |
| Jail population per 100,000 residents 15–64 ahead of similar counties | 105 | 568 | Chicot County, AR 174 Lee County, AR 207 Oregon County, MO 235 |
| Bridges rated poor behind similar counties | 7.1% | 4.8% | Calhoun County, GA 0.0% Presidio County, TX 0.0% Randolph 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.