“Counties like it” are non-metro counties with a similar population and a median household income near Columbia County's ($44,175). Ahead or behind means more than 15% better or worse than the typical one.
Ahead of similar counties on 5 measures:
About the same on 6: life expectancy, children in poverty, food insecurity, households with severe housing problems, unemployment, households with broadband internet.
| Measure | Columbia County | Typical similar county |
|---|---|---|
| Population change, 2020–2024 | -3.2% 22,743 → 22,024 | -1.8% |
| School spending per student (day-to-day costs) | $12,802 | $14,141 |
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, Columbia County's general fund held $8,368,839 — enough to cover about 21.8 months of that year's spending. Five years earlier (2020) it held $5,389,085. Among the 75 Arkansas counties whose state audits include this five-year schedule, that ranks 7 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 $44,175 here). Comparing with them, instead of the whole country, shows what similar places have managed.
| Measure | Columbia County | Typical similar county | Doing best among similar counties |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy about the same | 71.5 years | 70.7 years | Grayson County, VA 74.6 years Grant County, NM 74.3 years San Miguel County, NM 74.1 years |
| Adults under 65 without health insurance ahead of similar counties | 8.8% | 11.7% | Perry County, KY 6.6% Johnson County, KY 6.7% Letcher County, KY 7.1% |
| Residents per primary care doctor ahead of similar counties | 1,619 | 3,030 | Greenbrier County, WV 665 Perry County, KY 873 Nicholas County, WV 1,157 |
| Residents per mental health provider ahead of similar counties | 492 | 881 | San Miguel County, NM 91 Perry County, KY 121 Washington County, ME 143 |
| Children in poverty about the same | 27.8% | 29.7% | Tishomingo County, MS 18.1% Washington County, ME 20.7% Greenbrier County, WV 21.7% |
| Food insecurity about the same | 19.1% | 19.0% | Hampton County, SC 13.4% Clarendon County, SC 14.1% Jefferson County, GA 14.3% |
| Households with severe housing problems about the same | 13.8% | 13.7% | Grayson County, VA 8.4% Perry County, KY 8.5% Nicholas County, WV 8.7% |
| Unemployment about the same | 4.3% | 4.3% | Covington County, MS 2.7% Grayson County, VA 2.7% Hampton County, SC 2.8% |
| Households with broadband internet about the same | 78.8% | 77.1% | Perry County, KY 86.6% Johnson County, KY 86.5% Dunklin County, MO 86.3% |
| Jail population per 100,000 residents 15–64 ahead of similar counties | 330 | 477 | Barbour County, AL 39 Jackson County, AR 90 St. Francis County, AR 190 |
| Bridges rated poor ahead of similar counties | 2.3% | 6.9% | Jefferson County, GA 0.0% Jeff Davis County, GA 0.0% Dodge 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.