“Counties like it” are non-metro counties with a similar population and a median household income near Lincoln County's ($53,381). 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 2 measures:
About the same on 6: life expectancy, adults under 65 without health insurance, children in poverty, food insecurity, unemployment, bridges rated poor.
| Measure | Lincoln County | Typical similar county |
|---|---|---|
| Population change, 2020–2024 | -0.2% 12,890 → 12,868 | -0.0% |
| School spending per student (day-to-day costs) | $11,987 | $14,045 |
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, Lincoln County's general fund held $1,153,460 — enough to cover about 5.0 months of that year's spending. Five years earlier (2019) it held $487,608. Among the 75 Arkansas counties whose state audits include this five-year schedule, that ranks 66 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 $53,381 here). Comparing with them, instead of the whole country, shows what similar places have managed. Lincoln County is furthest behind on residents per primary care doctor, households with broadband internet.
| Measure | Lincoln County | Typical similar county | Doing best among similar counties |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy about the same | 72.6 years | 72.7 years | Glades County, FL 80.0 years Brewster County, TX 79.7 years Crawford County, WI 78.7 years |
| Adults under 65 without health insurance about the same | 10.0% | 11.7% | Appanoose County, IA 5.6% Greensville County, VA 5.9% Clay County, IL 5.9% |
| Residents per primary care doctor behind similar counties | 13,037 | 2,880 | Ashland County, WI 575 Brewster County, TX 787 Northampton County, VA 930 |
| Residents per mental health provider ahead of similar counties | 679 | 1,133 | Alamosa County, CO 66 Atoka County, OK 90 Colfax County, NM 98 |
| Children in poverty about the same | 24.8% | 24.7% | Deer Lodge County, MT 14.1% Monroe County, MO 15.3% Wadena County, MN 15.3% |
| Food insecurity about the same | 17.1% | 17.2% | Cumberland County, VA 9.3% Greensville County, VA 10.3% Crawford County, WI 11.5% |
| Households with severe housing problems ahead of similar counties | 7.1% | 11.9% | Winn Parish, LA 6.3% Lawrence County, IL 6.7% Taylor County, WV 6.9% |
| Unemployment about the same | 4.0% | 3.8% | Woods County, OK 1.9% Clay County, AL 2.4% Candler County, GA 2.5% |
| Households with broadband internet behind similar counties | 62.7% | 80.0% | Alamosa County, CO 89.7% Newton County, TX 89.2% Lawrence County, IL 88.5% |
| Jail population per 100,000 residents 15–64 ahead of similar counties | 173 | 450 | Alcona County, MI 73 Glacier County, MT 97 Deer Lodge County, MT 115 |
| Bridges rated poor about the same | 5.5% | 5.2% | Wilkinson County, GA 0.0% Irwin County, GA 0.0% Johnson 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.