Population 7,112 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Newton County
Household size in Newton County
| Period | Newton County | Arkansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.36 | 2.54 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.42 | 2.57 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.65 | 2.55 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.21 | 2.53 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.15 | −0.00 | −0.03 |
Households in Newton County are small: just 2.21 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 dropped from 2.36, a much bigger shift than nationally. Only one other Arkansas county has smaller households.
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 Newton County
| Period | Newton County | Arkansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 44.2 | 37.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 46.9 | 38.7 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 48.4 | 39.5 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 49.9 | 39.6 | 40.1 |
| Change | +5.7 | +1.7 | +2.3 |
Newton County skews older: half of its residents are older than 49.9, well above the national median of 40.1. That usually means more empty nesters and retirees, and fewer young families. The median age has climbed from 44.2 in 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Of Arkansas' 75 counties, only two are older.
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 Newton County
| Period | Newton County | Arkansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.1% | 12.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 5.4% | 12.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 7.0% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 7.7% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.4 pts | −0.2 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 7.7% of households in Newton County, well below the national share of 11.6%. Few Arkansas counties have a lower share of single-parent households: only five of 75.
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 Newton County
Renters in Newton County
| Period | Newton County | Arkansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 20.3% | 32.3% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 14.8% | 33.5% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 15.8% | 34.4% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 23.5% | 33.6% | 34.8% |
| Change | +3.2 pts | +1.3 pts | +1.5 pts |
Newton County is largely a place of homeowners: only 23.5% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. Among homeowners, 58.6% have no mortgage at all, well above the national share of 39.8%. The renter share is up 3.2 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country.
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 Newton County
| Period | Newton County | Arkansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 22.1% | 13.4% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 27.1% | 13.9% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 35.8% | 14.4% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 22.7% | 13.1% | 9.6% |
| Change | +0.6 pts | −0.3 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacant homes make up 22.7% of the housing in Newton 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 edged up 0.6 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 Newton County
| Period | Newton County | Arkansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1980 | 1981 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1981 | 1983 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1980 | 1985 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1985 | 1988 | 1980 |
| Change | +5 | +6 | +6 |
Homes in Newton County are a bit newer than the national norm: the median home was built in 1985, versus 1980 across the U.S. 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 northwest, the oldest in the northeast.
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 Newton County
| Period | Newton County | Arkansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $435 | $660 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $382 | $718 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $530 | $785 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $583 | $1,007 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$148 | +$346 | +$606 |
The median renter in Newton County pays $583 a month for rent and utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $148 a month from 2006–10, a 34% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 27.6% of the typical renter's income, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. Only one other Arkansas county has lower rents.
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 Newton County
Bachelor's degrees in Newton County
| Period | Newton County | Arkansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 12.1% | 20.6% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 11.3% | 21.8% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 19.7% | 23.8% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 15.6% | 26.2% | 35.6% |
| Change | +3.5 pts | +5.6 pts | +7.2 pts |
Fewer adults in Newton County have a four-year degree than in the country as a whole: 15.6%, against 35.6% nationally. The share with a degree has risen 3.5 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country. College graduates are most concentrated in the northwest 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 Newton County
| Period | Newton County | Arkansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 77.5% | 82.6% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 81.0% | 84.6% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 86.6% | 86.6% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 83.1% | 88.7% | 89.3% |
| Change | +5.6 pts | +6.1 pts | +4.3 pts |
About one in six adults in Newton County never finished high school, well above the national share: only 83.1% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% nationally. The share with a diploma is up 5.6 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally. Newton County has a lower share of high school graduates than at least four in five Arkansas counties.
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 Newton County
| Period | Newton County | Arkansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 4.9% | 7.7% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 3.3% | 8.4% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 3.4% | 5.2% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.7% | 5.1% | 5.4% |
| Change | −1.2 pts | −2.6 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Newton 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 edged down 1.2 points, in line with the national trend. 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).
Newton 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Newton County | 2.21 | 49.9 | 7.7% | 23.5% | 22.7% | 1985 | $583 | 15.6% | 83.1% | 3.7% |
| Searcy County | 2.48 | 48.2 | 8.7% | 20.6% | 31.5% | 1983 | $621 | 15.2% | 83.9% | 4.3% |
| Madison County | 2.72 | 42.1 | 12.2% | 20.5% | 15.9% | 1989 | $723 | 13.7% | 85.6% | 5.3% |
| Washington County | 2.62 | 34.6 | 11.1% | 44.4% | 8.5% | 1995 | $1,213 | 35.9% | 87.5% | 3.7% |
| Stone County | 2.40 | 47.4 | 12.1% | 24.1% | 24.4% | 1988 | $574 | 16.1% | 88.0% | 3.9% |
| Adair County | 2.68 | 37.3 | 12.7% | 31.5% | 11.8% | 1983 | $769 | 12.2% | 84.2% | 7.1% |
| Cherokee County | 2.52 | 38.2 | 11.9% | 34.3% | 14.5% | 1988 | $834 | 28.9% | 88.6% | 5.3% |
| Lawrence County | 2.38 | 39.4 | 11.5% | 33.4% | 13.4% | 1977 | $699 | 15.8% | 83.5% | 5.9% |
| Wagoner County | 2.80 | 39.6 | 9.4% | 18.7% | 7.2% | 1995 | $1,211 | 28.0% | 92.4% | 4.2% |
| Craighead County | 2.57 | 35.7 | 16.7% | 39.9% | 10.8% | 1992 | $1,059 | 29.6% | 90.1% | 5.4% |
| Greene County | 2.57 | 39.5 | 14.0% | 33.8% | 8.5% | 1990 | $883 | 17.0% | 86.6% | 5.9% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Vieques Municipio, PR · Campbell County, SD · Carlisle County, KY · Carroll County, KY · Carroll County, MO · Catron County, NM · Cavalier County, ND · Union County, KY · Union County, SD · Valley County, MT
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 Newton 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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