Population 42,407 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Baxter County
Household size in Baxter County
| Period | Baxter County | Arkansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.18 | 2.54 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.24 | 2.57 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.23 | 2.55 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.22 | 2.53 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.04 | −0.00 | −0.03 |
Households in Baxter County are small: just 2.22 people on average, compared with 2.65 nationally. That is typical of places where many people live alone or as couples, and fewer have children at home. Since 2006–10, household size has crept up from 2.18, even as the national average fell. Few Arkansas counties have smaller households: only two of 75.
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 Baxter County
| Period | Baxter County | Arkansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 50.0 | 37.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 50.3 | 38.7 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 51.2 | 39.5 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 51.0 | 39.6 | 40.1 |
| Change | +1.0 | +1.7 | +2.3 |
With a median age of 51.0, Baxter County is noticeably older than the country as a whole (40.1), an age mix that tilts toward empty nesters and retirees. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 50.0, mirroring the country. Baxter County has the oldest population of any Arkansas county.
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 Baxter County
| Period | Baxter County | Arkansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.5% | 12.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 8.6% | 12.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 6.0% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 9.2% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | +0.8 pts | −0.2 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are less common in Baxter County than nationally: 9.2%, against 11.6%. The single-parent share has edged up 0.8 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 Baxter County
Renters in Baxter County
| Period | Baxter County | Arkansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 23.4% | 32.3% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 23.7% | 33.5% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 23.9% | 34.4% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 24.8% | 33.6% | 34.8% |
| Change | +1.5 pts | +1.3 pts | +1.5 pts |
Only 24.8% of households in Baxter County rent their homes, far below the national share of 34.8%, so most residents are owners who tend to stay put. Just over half of owners (52.8%) have paid off their mortgages, well above the national share of 39.8%. Rentals cluster in the west; owners are most common in the northeast. Since 2006–10, the renter share has edged up 1.5 points, in line with the national trend.
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 Baxter County
| Period | Baxter County | Arkansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 14.2% | 13.4% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 16.9% | 13.9% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 16.9% | 14.4% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 13.5% | 13.1% | 9.6% |
| Change | −0.8 pts | −0.3 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy runs high in Baxter County: 13.5% of homes are empty, against 9.6% nationally. The count includes vacation homes and homes between owners or tenants, not just abandoned ones. Since 2006–10, vacancy has edged down 0.8 points, in line with the national trend.
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 Baxter County
| Period | Baxter County | Arkansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1982 | 1981 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1984 | 1983 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1986 | 1985 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1986 | 1988 | 1980 |
| Change | +4 | +6 | +6 |
The housing in Baxter County is younger than the country's: half of it was built after 1986, against 1980 nationally. Arkansas as a whole looks much the same. The median year built has moved up from 1982 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building.
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 Baxter County
| Period | Baxter County | Arkansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $600 | $660 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $650 | $718 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $727 | $785 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $838 | $1,007 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$238 | +$346 | +$606 |
Rent in Baxter County runs $838 a month at the median, utilities included, well below the U.S. median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $238 a month since 2006–10, up 40%, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 29.2% of the typical renter's income, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent.
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 Baxter County
Bachelor's degrees in Baxter County
| Period | Baxter County | Arkansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 14.3% | 20.6% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 17.5% | 21.8% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 18.0% | 23.8% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 19.2% | 26.2% | 35.6% |
| Change | +4.9 pts | +5.6 pts | +7.2 pts |
Fewer adults in Baxter County have a four-year degree than in the country as a whole: 19.2%, against 35.6% nationally. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 4.9 points, in line with the national trend. Compared with other Arkansas counties, though, Baxter County has a higher share of college graduates than most.
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 Baxter County
| Period | Baxter County | Arkansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 83.5% | 82.6% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 87.1% | 84.6% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 88.6% | 86.6% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 89.6% | 88.7% | 89.3% |
| Change | +6.2 pts | +6.1 pts | +4.3 pts |
About as many adults in Baxter County have finished high school as nationally: 89.6%, against 89.3%. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 6.2 points, 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 Baxter County
| Period | Baxter County | Arkansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.9% | 7.7% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 8.8% | 8.4% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.7% | 5.2% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.2% | 5.1% | 5.4% |
| Change | −1.7 pts | −2.6 pts | −2.7 pts |
Jobs have been a little harder to find in Baxter County than nationally: unemployment was 6.2%, against 5.4%. Since 2006–10, unemployment has fallen 1.7 points, as it has nationally. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current 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).
Baxter 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baxter County | 2.22 | 51.0 | 9.2% | 24.8% | 13.5% | 1986 | $838 | 19.2% | 89.6% | 6.2% |
| Marion County | 2.24 | 50.8 | 6.0% | 18.7% | 20.0% | 1986 | $844 | 14.9% | 85.6% | 4.9% |
| Fulton County | 2.54 | 49.0 | 7.7% | 15.3% | 22.5% | 1985 | $640 | 16.0% | 88.4% | 4.9% |
| Boone County | 2.50 | 43.0 | 7.8% | 29.2% | 12.3% | 1986 | $737 | 17.0% | 92.5% | 2.7% |
| Carroll County | 2.65 | 44.3 | 7.0% | 22.5% | 17.3% | 1987 | $832 | 18.9% | 83.2% | 5.0% |
| Randolph County | 2.60 | 41.0 | 13.7% | 26.5% | 14.4% | 1981 | $753 | 11.2% | 83.2% | 4.6% |
| Benton County | 2.75 | 36.8 | 10.3% | 33.0% | 8.8% | 2000 | $1,374 | 38.4% | 90.2% | 3.1% |
| Clay County | 2.35 | 42.7 | 14.0% | 25.3% | 19.5% | 1973 | $749 | 15.2% | 87.4% | 5.7% |
| Dunklin County | 2.42 | 39.6 | 15.4% | 37.7% | 16.4% | 1971 | $678 | 13.1% | 81.3% | 4.5% |
| Delaware County | 2.47 | 46.8 | 10.8% | 22.9% | 24.1% | 1988 | $892 | 19.3% | 88.0% | 4.8% |
| Mayes County | 2.59 | 41.0 | 11.2% | 25.6% | 14.9% | 1983 | $870 | 18.3% | 89.8% | 6.6% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Washington Parish, LA · Bingham County, ID · Juana Diaz Municipio, PR · Val Verde County, TX · Whitman County, WA · Douglas County, NV · Clatsop County, OR · Snyder County, PA · Beaufort County, NC · Fayette County, WV
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 Baxter 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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