Population 16,515 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Arkansas County
Household size in Arkansas County
| Period | Arkansas County | Arkansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.27 | 2.54 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.38 | 2.57 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.36 | 2.55 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.45 | 2.53 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.17 | −0.00 | −0.03 |
The average household in Arkansas County has 2.45 people, under the U.S. average of 2.65. Household size has climbed from 2.27 in 2006–10, even as the national average fell. The biggest households, usually families with children, are concentrated in the west.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Arkansas County
| Period | Arkansas County | Arkansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 41.7 | 37.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 42.0 | 38.7 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 41.2 | 39.5 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 41.4 | 39.6 | 40.1 |
| Change | −0.4 | +1.7 | +2.3 |
Half of the people in Arkansas County are younger than 41.4 and half are older, close to the national median of 40.1. The population here is older than in Arkansas overall, where the median age is 39.6. Since 2006–10, the median age has edged down from 41.7, even as the national median rose.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Arkansas County
| Period | Arkansas County | Arkansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 12.6% | 12.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 10.3% | 12.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 12.0% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 13.6% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | +1.0 pts | −0.2 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head nearly one in seven households in Arkansas County (13.6%), a bit above the national share of 11.6%. The single-parent share has edged up 1.0 points since 2006–10, even as the national share fell.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Arkansas County
Renters in Arkansas County
| Period | Arkansas County | Arkansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 35.6% | 32.3% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 32.1% | 33.5% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 34.8% | 34.4% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 35.4% | 33.6% | 34.8% |
| Change | −0.2 pts | +1.3 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renting in Arkansas County is about as common as it is nationally: 35.4% of households rent, against 34.8%. Among homeowners, 56.1% have no mortgage at all, well above the national share of 39.8%. Renting is most common in the northwest and least common in the south.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Arkansas County
| Period | Arkansas County | Arkansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 13.4% | 13.4% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 17.2% | 13.9% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 19.3% | 14.4% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 21.9% | 13.1% | 9.6% |
| Change | +8.5 pts | −0.3 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacant homes make up 21.9% of the housing in Arkansas County, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand. Since 2006–10, vacancy has risen 8.5 points, even as the national rate fell.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Arkansas County
| Period | Arkansas County | Arkansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1970 | 1981 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1971 | 1983 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1973 | 1985 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1977 | 1988 | 1980 |
| Change | +7 | +6 | +6 |
The typical home in Arkansas County was built around 1977, about the same vintage as the country's housing overall (1980). Homes here are older than in Arkansas overall, where the median home dates to 1988. The median year built has moved up from 1970 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Few Arkansas counties have older homes: only seven of 75.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Arkansas County
| Period | Arkansas County | Arkansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $571 | $660 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $630 | $718 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $656 | $785 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $856 | $1,007 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$284 | +$346 | +$606 |
Rent in Arkansas County runs $856 a month at the median, utilities included, well below the U.S. median of $1,571. Rents are up $284 a month from 2006–10, a 50% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 29.9% of household income on rent, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally. The priciest rents are in the west; the most affordable are in the east.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Arkansas County
Bachelor's degrees in Arkansas County
| Period | Arkansas County | Arkansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 14.9% | 20.6% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 14.2% | 21.8% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 16.9% | 23.8% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 12.7% | 26.2% | 35.6% |
| Change | −2.2 pts | +5.6 pts | +7.2 pts |
Fewer adults in Arkansas County have a four-year degree than in the country as a whole: 12.7%, against 35.6% nationally. The share with a degree is down 2.2 points from 2006–10, even as the national share rose. College graduates are most concentrated in the south and least in the east.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Arkansas County
| Period | Arkansas County | Arkansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 80.7% | 82.6% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 83.1% | 84.6% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 84.6% | 86.6% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 85.2% | 88.7% | 89.3% |
| Change | +4.5 pts | +6.1 pts | +4.3 pts |
About one in seven adults in Arkansas County never finished high school, more than nationally: 85.2% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% across the U.S. The share with a diploma is up 4.5 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Arkansas County
| Period | Arkansas County | Arkansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.4% | 7.7% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 7.4% | 8.4% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.3% | 5.2% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 8.2% | 5.1% | 5.4% |
| Change | +0.8 pts | −2.6 pts | −2.7 pts |
Finding work has been harder in Arkansas County: 8.2% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well above the national rate of 5.4%. Since 2006–10, unemployment has edged up 0.8 points, even as the national rate fell. Each figure pools five years of surveys (2020–24), so it describes that whole stretch rather than today's job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Arkansas County compared with nearby counties
| County | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arkansas County | 2.45 | 41.4 | 13.6% | 35.4% | 21.9% | 1977 | $856 | 12.7% | 85.2% | 8.2% |
| Phillips County | 2.65 | 38.4 | 20.3% | 48.8% | 25.4% | 1975 | $815 | 15.4% | 81.6% | 13.6% |
| Grant County | 2.65 | 39.8 | 9.7% | 19.3% | 12.6% | 1991 | $814 | 22.9% | 90.6% | 4.3% |
| Saline County | 2.58 | 41.2 | 9.1% | 21.8% | 6.0% | 1996 | $1,119 | 29.9% | 93.4% | 3.9% |
| Hot Spring County | 2.52 | 43.0 | 7.8% | 23.5% | 13.7% | 1982 | $813 | 18.3% | 89.9% | 3.5% |
| Panola County | 2.71 | 39.2 | 16.3% | 28.9% | 15.3% | 1986 | $939 | 17.2% | 83.5% | 6.0% |
| Garland County | 2.36 | 46.2 | 14.2% | 30.6% | 18.0% | 1985 | $1,025 | 24.7% | 90.2% | 5.1% |
| Lafayette County | 2.77 | 34.7 | 9.0% | 36.2% | 32.5% | 1999 | $1,101 | 52.4% | 93.5% | 2.1% |
| Montgomery County | 2.30 | 49.1 | 10.8% | 19.4% | 30.9% | 1988 | $664 | 17.5% | 88.8% | 5.1% |
| Union County | 2.93 | 37.2 | 13.9% | 25.3% | 19.6% | 1985 | $862 | 19.1% | 79.7% | 4.9% |
| Polk County | 2.46 | 45.0 | 7.4% | 21.1% | 18.2% | 1985 | $728 | 18.3% | 87.0% | 7.1% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Curry County, OR · Deer Lodge County, MT · Pacific County, WA · Pamlico County, NC · Payette County, ID · Pecos County, TX · Penuelas Municipio, PR · Dade County, MO · Perquimans County, NC · Owyhee County, ID
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Arkansas County. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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