“Counties like it” are non-metro counties with a similar population and a median household income near Montgomery County's ($48,991). 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 4 measures:
About the same on 4: life expectancy, adults under 65 without health insurance, children in poverty, households with broadband internet.
| Measure | Montgomery County | Typical similar county |
|---|---|---|
| Population change, 2020–2024 | 0.3% 8,484 → 8,510 | -0.0% |
| School spending per student (day-to-day costs) | $13,837 | $15,048 |
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, Montgomery County's general fund held $5,538,384 — enough to cover about 21.0 months of that year's spending. Five years earlier (2020) it held $2,044,857. Among the 75 Arkansas counties whose state audits include this five-year schedule, that ranks 9 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 $48,991 here). Comparing with them, instead of the whole country, shows what similar places have managed. Montgomery County is furthest behind on residents per mental health provider, residents per primary care doctor, unemployment.
| Measure | Montgomery County | Typical similar county | Doing best among similar counties |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy about the same | 71.9 years | 71.8 years | Alleghany County, NC 77.3 years Mackinac County, MI 77.2 years Harrison County, MO 77.1 years |
| Adults under 65 without health insurance about the same | 13.2% | 13.1% | Luce County, MI 6.4% Menifee County, KY 6.7% Caldwell County, KY 6.8% |
| Residents per primary care doctor behind similar counties | 4,305 | 2,961 | Luce County, MI 758 Franklin city, VA 913 Northampton County, VA 930 |
| Residents per mental health provider behind similar counties | 4,310 | 1,303 | Pushmataha County, OK 97 Galax city, VA 108 Johnston County, OK 112 |
| Children in poverty about the same | 28.4% | 27.8% | Buena Vista city, VA 18.3% Sullivan County, MO 18.7% Blackford County, IN 18.8% |
| Food insecurity behind similar counties | 21.6% | 18.0% | Grant County, WV 11.6% Lunenburg County, VA 12.9% Pendleton County, WV 13.2% |
| Households with severe housing problems ahead of similar counties | 9.9% | 12.4% | Monroe County, WV 5.2% Calhoun County, WV 6.3% Conecuh County, AL 6.3% |
| Unemployment behind similar counties | 4.9% | 3.9% | Candler County, GA 2.5% La Salle County, TX 2.6% Pendleton County, WV 2.6% |
| Households with broadband internet about the same | 76.9% | 78.5% | Franklin city, VA 90.1% Newton County, TX 89.2% Buena Vista city, VA 87.8% |
| Jail population per 100,000 residents 15–64 ahead of similar counties | 181 | 477 | Alcona County, MI 73 Ontonagon County, MI 154 Mackinac County, MI 158 |
| Bridges rated poor ahead of similar counties | 2.5% | 4.1% | Miller County, GA 0.0% Treutlen County, GA 0.0% Buena Vista city, VA 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.