Population 22,085 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Ouachita County
Household size in Ouachita County
| Period | Ouachita County | Arkansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.40 | 2.54 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.41 | 2.57 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.43 | 2.55 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.68 | 2.53 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.28 | −0.00 | −0.03 |
Households in Ouachita County average 2.68 people, about the same as the country as a whole (2.65). The typical household here is bigger than in Arkansas overall, where it has 2.53 people. Since 2006–10, household size has climbed from 2.40, even as the national average fell. Only five of Arkansas' 75 counties have larger 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 Ouachita County
| Period | Ouachita County | Arkansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 41.5 | 37.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 43.2 | 38.7 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 43.0 | 39.5 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 44.2 | 39.6 | 40.1 |
| Change | +2.7 | +1.7 | +2.3 |
With a median age of 44.2, Ouachita 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 41.5, mirroring the country. Residents skew youngest in the east and oldest in the west.
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 Ouachita County
| Period | Ouachita County | Arkansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 15.5% | 12.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 13.6% | 12.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 15.8% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 15.6% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | +0.1 pts | −0.2 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are common in Ouachita County: 15.6% of all households, against 11.6% nationally. Ouachita County has a higher share of single-parent households than the great majority of Arkansas counties.
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 Ouachita County
Renters in Ouachita County
| Period | Ouachita County | Arkansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 30.2% | 32.3% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 31.8% | 33.5% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 30.9% | 34.4% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 29.1% | 33.6% | 34.8% |
| Change | −1.2 pts | +1.3 pts | +1.5 pts |
Most households in Ouachita County own their homes; 29.1% rent, a little below the national share of 34.8%. Among homeowners, 59.3% have no mortgage at all, well above the national share of 39.8%. Renting is most common in the center and least common in the southeast. Since 2006–10, the renter share has edged down 1.2 points, even as the national share rose.
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 Ouachita County
| Period | Ouachita County | Arkansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 18.1% | 13.4% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 19.7% | 13.9% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 25.2% | 14.4% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 26.5% | 13.1% | 9.6% |
| Change | +8.4 pts | −0.3 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacant homes make up 26.5% of the housing in Ouachita 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 8.4 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 Ouachita County
| Period | Ouachita County | Arkansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1971 | 1981 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1973 | 1983 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1973 | 1985 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1973 | 1988 | 1980 |
| Change | +2 | +6 | +6 |
Homes in Ouachita County run older than the national norm, with a median build year of 1973 against 1980. The newest homes are mostly in the northeast, the oldest in the center. Only one other Arkansas county has older homes.
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 Ouachita County
| Period | Ouachita County | Arkansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $472 | $660 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $562 | $718 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $571 | $785 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $811 | $1,007 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$338 | +$346 | +$606 |
Rent in Ouachita County runs $811 a month at the median, utilities included, well below the U.S. median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $338 a month since 2006–10, up 72%, faster than rents rose nationally. 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 northeast; the most affordable are in the southwest.
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 Ouachita County
Bachelor's degrees in Ouachita County
| Period | Ouachita County | Arkansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 13.5% | 20.6% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 15.8% | 21.8% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 15.3% | 23.8% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 15.8% | 26.2% | 35.6% |
| Change | +2.3 pts | +5.6 pts | +7.2 pts |
Fewer adults in Ouachita County have a four-year degree than in the country as a whole: 15.8%, against 35.6% nationally. The share with a degree has risen 2.3 points since 2006–10, a smaller shift than nationally.
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 Ouachita County
| Period | Ouachita County | Arkansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 81.8% | 82.6% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 85.4% | 84.6% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 85.9% | 86.6% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 88.8% | 88.7% | 89.3% |
| Change | +6.9 pts | +6.1 pts | +4.3 pts |
About as many adults in Ouachita County have finished high school as nationally: 88.8%, against 89.3%. The share with a diploma is up 6.9 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally.
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 Ouachita County
| Period | Ouachita County | Arkansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 12.4% | 7.7% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 11.1% | 8.4% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 9.0% | 5.2% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.9% | 5.1% | 5.4% |
| Change | −7.6 pts | −2.6 pts | −2.7 pts |
At 4.9%, unemployment in Ouachita County is close to the national rate of 5.4%. Unemployment is down 7.6 points from 2006–10, 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).
Ouachita 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ouachita County | 2.68 | 44.2 | 15.6% | 29.1% | 26.5% | 1973 | $811 | 15.8% | 88.8% | 4.9% |
| Calhoun County | 2.69 | 44.7 | 5.6% | 12.2% | 30.7% | 1982 | $808 | 19.5% | 87.0% | 5.5% |
| Bradley County | 2.71 | 41.9 | 12.2% | 34.0% | 23.4% | 1976 | $691 | 15.3% | 85.4% | 6.5% |
| Hempstead County | 2.63 | 41.2 | 12.6% | 28.3% | 21.4% | 1980 | $772 | 17.3% | 81.7% | 5.8% |
| Drew County | 2.32 | 37.3 | 15.1% | 36.3% | 11.7% | 1985 | $774 | 25.6% | 88.9% | 7.9% |
| Miller County | 2.59 | 39.5 | 16.3% | 35.6% | 19.1% | 1982 | $881 | 15.3% | 86.6% | 7.1% |
| Bowie County | 2.52 | 38.9 | 13.7% | 36.6% | 13.5% | 1984 | $1,033 | 23.8% | 91.0% | 4.7% |
| Red River County | 2.30 | 47.4 | 17.6% | 28.5% | 19.8% | 1983 | $1,122 | 15.9% | 86.8% | 2.0% |
| Sunflower County | 2.74 | 37.3 | 24.5% | 45.1% | 15.9% | 1978 | $698 | 16.6% | 76.6% | 11.6% |
| Leflore County | 2.70 | 34.6 | 24.4% | 47.6% | 19.2% | 1973 | $770 | 21.5% | 82.5% | 16.1% |
| Lamar County | 2.53 | 41.3 | 14.0% | 33.9% | 12.3% | 1988 | $984 | 21.6% | 88.6% | 4.6% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Peach County, GA · Manassas Park City, VA · Marengo County, AL · Marion County, AR · Marion County, KY · Mariposa County, CA · Marquette County, WI · Marshall County, OK · Ottawa County, OK · Palo Pinto County, TX
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 Ouachita 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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