“Counties like it” are non-metro counties with a similar population and a median household income near Lee County's ($36,735). 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 5 measures:
About the same on 4: life expectancy, food insecurity, unemployment, households with broadband internet.
| Measure | Lee County | Typical similar county |
|---|---|---|
| Population change, 2020–2024 | -5.0% 8,530 → 8,104 | -4.5% |
| School spending per student (day-to-day costs) | $20,742 | $15,410 |
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, Lee County's general fund held $1,516,300 — enough to cover about 5.4 months of that year's spending. Five years earlier (2020) it held $1,237,436. Among the 75 Arkansas counties whose state audits include this five-year schedule, that ranks 64 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 $36,735 here). Comparing with them, instead of the whole country, shows what similar places have managed. Lee County is furthest behind on bridges rated poor, residents per primary care doctor, residents per mental health provider.
| Measure | Lee County | Typical similar county | Doing best among similar counties |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy about the same | 68.9 years | 70.5 years | Wheeler County, GA 76.5 years Zapata County, TX 74.7 years Claiborne Parish, LA 73.8 years |
| Adults under 65 without health insurance ahead of similar counties | 10.1% | 12.0% | Leslie County, KY 5.4% Metcalfe County, KY 6.4% Martin County, KY 6.6% |
| Residents per primary care doctor behind similar counties | 8,619 | 3,254 | Phillips County, AR 1,591 Chicot County, AR 1,670 Sumter County, AL 1,738 |
| Residents per mental health provider behind similar counties | 2,734 | 1,548 | Madison Parish, LA 114 Latimer County, OK 140 Chicot County, AR 173 |
| Children in poverty behind similar counties | 46.1% | 38.2% | Grundy County, TN 26.9% Oregon County, MO 27.6% Searcy County, AR 28.1% |
| Food insecurity about the same | 20.9% | 20.9% | Bamberg County, SC 15.0% Calhoun County, GA 16.0% Webster County, WV 16.3% |
| Households with severe housing problems behind similar counties | 19.2% | 14.1% | Jefferson County, MS 7.3% Metcalfe County, KY 8.6% Searcy County, AR 9.4% |
| Unemployment about the same | 5.2% | 5.1% | Bullock County, AL 2.4% Calhoun County, GA 2.8% Oregon County, MO 3.5% |
| Households with broadband internet about the same | 80.8% | 75.6% | Jefferson County, MS 87.2% Fulton County, KY 85.8% Magoffin County, KY 83.0% |
| Jail population per 100,000 residents 15–64 ahead of similar counties | 207 | 456 | Monroe County, AR 105 Bamberg County, SC 166 Chicot County, AR 174 |
| Bridges rated poor behind similar counties | 13.8% | 5.0% | Calhoun County, GA 0.0% Randolph County, GA 0.0% Brooks 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.