Population 38,175 · Census ACS 2020–24
Choose a measure to map it.Tap a measure to map it. Swipe the row for more. Arrows show the change since 2006–10.
Median age by neighborhoodHistory and comparison ↓︎
Younger residents
Older residents
Colorblind friendly
off
More maps of Independence County: Best Neighborhoods · Walk Grade · Household income · Home prices · Race · Politics · Traffic noise · Internet
Population and households in Independence County
Household size in Independence County
| Period | Independence County | Arkansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.39 | 2.54 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.48 | 2.57 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.53 | 2.55 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.60 | 2.53 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.21 | −0.00 | −0.03 |
Households in Independence County average 2.60 people, about the same as the country as a whole (2.65). Since 2006–10, household size has climbed from 2.39, even as the national average fell. The biggest households, usually families with children, are concentrated in the northwest.
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 Independence County
| Period | Independence County | Arkansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 39.4 | 37.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 40.4 | 38.7 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 40.1 | 39.5 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 39.9 | 39.6 | 40.1 |
| Change | +0.5 | +1.7 | +2.3 |
At 39.9, the median age in Independence County is close to the national median of 40.1, so its age mix looks much like the country's. Since 2006–10, the median age has crept up from 39.4, a smaller shift than nationally. Residents skew youngest in the south and oldest in the north.
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 Independence County
| Period | Independence County | Arkansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.9% | 12.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 12.2% | 12.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 13.1% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 10.1% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | −1.8 pts | −0.2 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are a bit less common in Independence County than nationally: 10.1%, against 11.6%. Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has fallen 1.8 points, mirroring the country.
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 Independence County
Renters in Independence County
| Period | Independence County | Arkansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 27.2% | 32.3% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 30.0% | 33.5% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 28.4% | 34.4% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 30.8% | 33.6% | 34.8% |
| Change | +3.6 pts | +1.3 pts | +1.5 pts |
Most households in Independence County own their homes; 30.8% rent, a little below the national share of 34.8%. Among homeowners, 46.8% have no mortgage at all, above the national share of 39.8%. Rentals cluster in the center; owners are most common in the southwest. The renter share is up 3.6 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally.
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 Independence County
| Period | Independence County | Arkansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.9% | 13.4% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 11.0% | 13.9% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 13.1% | 14.4% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 12.8% | 13.1% | 9.6% |
| Change | +5.0 pts | −0.3 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy runs high in Independence County: 12.8% 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 risen 5.0 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 Independence County
| Period | Independence County | Arkansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1980 | 1981 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1981 | 1983 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1984 | 1985 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1987 | 1988 | 1980 |
| Change | +7 | +6 | +6 |
The housing in Independence County is younger than the country's: half of it was built after 1987, against 1980 nationally. The median year built has moved up from 1980 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the northeast, the oldest in the west.
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 Independence County
| Period | Independence County | Arkansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $549 | $660 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $597 | $718 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $649 | $785 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $816 | $1,007 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$266 | +$346 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Independence County costs $816 a month with utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $266 a month from 2006–10, a 48% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 28.4% of the typical renter's income, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. Rents run highest in the center and lowest in the northeast.
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 Independence County
Bachelor's degrees in Independence County
| Period | Independence County | Arkansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 15.7% | 20.6% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 15.4% | 21.8% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 18.1% | 23.8% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 18.3% | 26.2% | 35.6% |
| Change | +2.7 pts | +5.6 pts | +7.2 pts |
Fewer adults in Independence County have a four-year degree than in the country as a whole: 18.3%, against 35.6% nationally. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 2.7 points, as it has nationally. College graduates are most concentrated in the center and least in the southeast.
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 Independence County
| Period | Independence County | Arkansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 83.1% | 82.6% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 82.5% | 84.6% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 86.3% | 86.6% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 88.5% | 88.7% | 89.3% |
| Change | +5.4 pts | +6.1 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Independence County is close to the national rate: 88.5% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 5.4 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 Independence County
| Period | Independence County | Arkansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.8% | 7.7% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 7.4% | 8.4% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.8% | 5.2% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.7% | 5.1% | 5.4% |
| Change | −3.1 pts | −2.6 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Independence County runs below the national rate: 3.7% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4% nationally. Since 2006–10, unemployment has fallen 3.1 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).
Independence 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independence County | 2.60 | 39.9 | 10.1% | 30.8% | 12.8% | 1987 | $816 | 18.3% | 88.5% | 3.7% |
| Jackson County | 2.42 | 39.0 | 13.4% | 34.5% | 16.4% | 1973 | $708 | 14.7% | 84.9% | 9.3% |
| Stone County | 2.40 | 47.4 | 12.1% | 24.1% | 24.4% | 1988 | $574 | 16.1% | 88.0% | 3.9% |
| Craighead County | 2.57 | 35.7 | 16.7% | 39.9% | 10.8% | 1992 | $1,059 | 29.6% | 90.1% | 5.4% |
| Poinsett County | 2.60 | 39.6 | 13.7% | 35.6% | 17.2% | 1980 | $689 | 11.4% | 80.7% | 8.5% |
| Mississippi County | 2.61 | 37.7 | 16.0% | 40.0% | 18.5% | 1977 | $820 | 14.2% | 86.0% | 6.4% |
| Lauderdale County | 2.52 | 38.4 | 16.8% | 35.6% | 13.7% | 1981 | $771 | 12.3% | 83.9% | 5.4% |
| Crockett County | 2.52 | 40.4 | 15.2% | 28.4% | 9.9% | 1980 | $845 | 16.8% | 88.0% | 2.9% |
| Madison County | 2.42 | 39.9 | 14.9% | 38.0% | 9.1% | 1985 | $1,160 | 26.6% | 90.2% | 7.1% |
| Adair County | 2.68 | 37.3 | 12.7% | 31.5% | 11.8% | 1983 | $769 | 12.2% | 84.2% | 7.1% |
| Henderson County | 2.58 | 41.2 | 13.3% | 26.8% | 15.1% | 1986 | $745 | 16.3% | 88.8% | 5.7% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Hatillo Municipio, PR · Hopkins County, TX · Hopkins County, KY · Holmes County, OH · Hillsdale County, MI · Hill County, TX · Highland County, OH · Henry County, TN · Hendry County, FL · Henderson County, KY
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 Independence 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.
No other site shows detail at this level for free. We are able to keep this site free by receiving a small commission from the referring links on this page. Please share or cite this page if you aren’t able to otherwise support our work.