“Counties like it” are non-metro counties with a similar population and a median household income near Union County's ($49,664). 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 3 measures:
About the same on 5: drug overdose deaths per 100,000, life expectancy, children in poverty, food insecurity, households with broadband internet.
| Measure | Union County | Typical similar county |
|---|---|---|
| Population change, 2020–2024 | -5.0% 38,940 → 37,008 | 0.5% |
| School spending per student (day-to-day costs) | $12,450 | $13,399 |
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, Union County's general fund held $17,351,164 — enough to cover about 18.3 months of that year's spending. Five years earlier (2020) it held $11,404,824. Among the 75 Arkansas counties whose state audits include this five-year schedule, that ranks 16 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 $49,664 here). Comparing with them, instead of the whole country, shows what similar places have managed. Union County is furthest behind on jail population per 100,000 residents 15–64, unemployment, households with severe housing problems.
| Measure | Union County | Typical similar county | Doing best among similar counties |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drug overdose deaths per 100,000 about the same | 24.5 | 27.9 | Lincoln Parish, LA 9.1 Howell County, MO 10.8 Jackson County, AL 10.8 |
| Life expectancy about the same | 70.4 years | 71.9 years | Santa Cruz County, AZ 79.9 years Alpena County, MI 77.0 years McDonough County, IL 76.7 years |
| Adults under 65 without health insurance ahead of similar counties | 8.8% | 12.4% | McDonough County, IL 6.0% Rowan County, KY 6.2% Alpena County, MI 6.2% |
| Residents per primary care doctor ahead of similar counties | 1,597 | 2,351 | Jackson County, IL 618 Greenbrier County, WV 665 Danville city, VA 898 |
| Residents per mental health provider ahead of similar counties | 505 | 664 | Pike County, OH 74 San Miguel County, NM 91 Taos County, NM 115 |
| Children in poverty about the same | 24.0% | 24.9% | Cass County, IN 16.5% Phelps County, MO 17.0% Stoddard County, MO 17.9% |
| Food insecurity about the same | 17.4% | 17.5% | Halifax County, VA 12.8% Colleton County, SC 13.4% Randolph County, WV 13.7% |
| Households with severe housing problems behind similar counties | 16.2% | 13.7% | McNairy County, TN 7.3% Taylor County, KY 7.6% Mason County, WV 7.8% |
| Unemployment behind similar counties | 4.6% | 3.9% | Chambers County, AL 2.4% Jackson County, AL 2.5% Franklin County, AL 2.6% |
| Households with broadband internet about the same | 81.4% | 81.8% | Rowan County, KY 92.1% Logan County, WV 88.8% Phelps County, MO 88.4% |
| Jail population per 100,000 residents 15–64 behind similar counties | 689 | 447 | Chambers County, AL 9 Howell County, MO 13 Butler County, MO 57 |
| Bridges rated poor ahead of similar counties | 1.0% | 4.7% | Uvalde County, TX 0.0% Toombs County, GA 0.0% Kleberg 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.