“Counties like it” are metro-area counties with a similar population and a median household income near Smith County's ($71,348). 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, children in poverty, food insecurity, households with severe housing problems, unemployment, households with broadband internet.
| Measure | Smith County | Typical similar county |
|---|---|---|
| Population change, 2020–2024 | 6.4% 234,200 → 249,091 | 3.0% |
| School spending per student (day-to-day costs) | $11,260 | $13,507 |
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.
“Counties like it” means other counties in a metro area with a similar number of people and a similar median household income (about $71,348 here). Comparing with them, instead of the whole country, shows what similar places have managed. Smith County is furthest behind on adults under 65 without health insurance, residents per mental health provider.
| Measure | Smith County | Typical similar county | Doing best among similar counties |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drug overdose deaths per 100,000 ahead of similar counties | 10.2 | 32.5 | Washington County, AR 11.2 Lancaster County, NE 13.9 Minnehaha County, SD 15.3 |
| Life expectancy about the same | 75.4 years | 76.4 years | Washington County, UT 80.2 years Whatcom County, WA 79.6 years Lancaster County, NE 79.1 years |
| Adults under 65 without health insurance behind similar counties | 18.6% | 9.2% | Linn County, IA 4.3% Niagara County, NY 4.4% Westmoreland County, PA 4.7% |
| Residents per primary care doctor ahead of similar counties | 1,014 | 1,588 | Buncombe County, NC 711 St. Louis County, MN 810 Sangamon County, IL 829 |
| Residents per mental health provider behind similar counties | 540 | 396 | Buncombe County, NC 112 Jackson County, OR 139 Whatcom County, WA 158 |
| Children in poverty about the same | 17.1% | 15.3% | Cass County, ND 8.0% Lancaster County, NE 9.0% Minnehaha County, SD 10.3% |
| Food insecurity about the same | 14.9% | 13.1% | Cass County, ND 7.8% Minnehaha County, SD 9.6% Linn County, IA 9.7% |
| Households with severe housing problems about the same | 14.8% | 13.6% | Lake County, OH 9.5% Washington County, PA 9.6% Westmoreland County, PA 9.9% |
| Unemployment about the same | 3.6% | 3.4% | Cass County, ND 1.7% Minnehaha County, SD 1.8% Lancaster County, NE 2.1% |
| Households with broadband internet about the same | 88.8% | 89.9% | Hall County, GA 93.1% Whatcom County, WA 92.9% Canyon County, ID 92.8% |
| Bridges rated poor ahead of similar counties | 0.7% | 5.6% | Ector County, TX 0.0% Houston County, GA 0.0% Yavapai County, AZ 0.4% |
“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.