Population 8,064 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Prairie County
Household size in Prairie County
| Period | Prairie County | Arkansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.51 | 2.54 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.22 | 2.57 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.14 | 2.55 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.42 | 2.53 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.09 | −0.00 | −0.03 |
Households in Prairie County run small, averaging 2.42 people against 2.65 nationally, which usually means more singles and couples and fewer children. Household size has dropped from 2.51 in 2006–10, mirroring the country. Households are largest in the center and smallest in the southeast.
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 Prairie County
| Period | Prairie County | Arkansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 42.6 | 37.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 44.4 | 38.7 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 45.5 | 39.5 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 46.2 | 39.6 | 40.1 |
| Change | +3.6 | +1.7 | +2.3 |
With a median age of 46.2, Prairie County is noticeably older than the country as a whole (40.1), an age mix that tilts toward empty nesters and retirees. The median age has climbed from 42.6 in 2006–10, mirroring the country. The youngest areas are in the center, the oldest in the northeast.
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 Prairie County
| Period | Prairie County | Arkansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.8% | 12.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 11.1% | 12.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 9.6% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.2% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | −4.6 pts | −0.2 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Prairie County: 6.2% of households, against 11.6% nationally. Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has fallen 4.6 points, a much bigger shift than nationally. Few Arkansas counties have a lower share of single-parent households: only two 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 Prairie County
Renters in Prairie County
| Period | Prairie County | Arkansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 27.4% | 32.3% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 28.2% | 33.5% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 26.1% | 34.4% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 24.2% | 33.6% | 34.8% |
| Change | −3.2 pts | +1.3 pts | +1.5 pts |
Only 24.2% of households in Prairie County rent their homes, far below the national share of 34.8%, so most residents are owners who tend to stay put. Among homeowners, 52.9% have no mortgage at all, well above the national share of 39.8%. The renter share is down 3.2 points from 2006–10, 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 Prairie County
| Period | Prairie County | Arkansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 21.3% | 13.4% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 15.7% | 13.9% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 16.7% | 14.4% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 19.1% | 13.1% | 9.6% |
| Change | −2.2 pts | −0.3 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in Prairie County: 19.1% of homes are empty, 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. Vacancy has fallen 2.2 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally.
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 Prairie County
| Period | Prairie County | Arkansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1972 | 1981 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1980 | 1983 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1979 | 1985 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1980 | 1988 | 1980 |
| Change | +8 | +6 | +6 |
Homes in Prairie County are the same age as the nation's housing: the median home was built in 1980. Homes here are older than in Arkansas as a whole, where the median home dates to 1988. The median year built has moved up from 1972 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the northwest, the oldest in the southeast.
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 Prairie County
| Period | Prairie County | Arkansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $454 | $660 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $472 | $718 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $591 | $785 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $651 | $1,007 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$198 | +$346 | +$606 |
Rent in Prairie County runs $651 a month at the median, utilities included, well below the U.S. median of $1,571. Rents are up $198 a month from 2006–10, a 44% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 29.3% 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 north.
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 Prairie County
Bachelor's degrees in Prairie County
| Period | Prairie County | Arkansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 12.7% | 20.6% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 10.2% | 21.8% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 15.4% | 23.8% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 18.0% | 26.2% | 35.6% |
| Change | +5.3 pts | +5.6 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Prairie County: 18.0% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's or higher, well below the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree has risen 5.3 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country. College graduates are most concentrated in the northwest and least in the northeast.
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 Prairie County
| Period | Prairie County | Arkansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 78.8% | 82.6% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 79.3% | 84.6% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 83.3% | 86.6% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 87.0% | 88.7% | 89.3% |
| Change | +8.2 pts | +6.1 pts | +4.3 pts |
About one in eight adults in Prairie County never finished high school, a bit more than nationally: 87.0% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% across the U.S. The share with a diploma has risen 8.2 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country.
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 Prairie County
| Period | Prairie County | Arkansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.0% | 7.7% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 5.3% | 8.4% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 7.3% | 5.2% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.2% | 5.1% | 5.4% |
| Change | −2.8 pts | −2.6 pts | −2.7 pts |
The job market in Prairie County has been strong: just 3.2% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Few Arkansas counties have lower unemployment: only five of 75. Unemployment has fallen 2.8 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country.
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).
Prairie 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prairie County | 2.42 | 46.2 | 6.2% | 24.2% | 19.1% | 1980 | $651 | 18.0% | 87.0% | 3.2% |
| Monroe County | 2.40 | 44.1 | 10.1% | 37.4% | 24.7% | 1975 | $606 | 13.0% | 81.4% | 9.3% |
| Lonoke County | 2.67 | 38.1 | 12.0% | 25.0% | 7.7% | 1996 | $1,130 | 22.0% | 90.9% | 4.5% |
| Lee County | 2.57 | 42.3 | 19.0% | 41.0% | 28.5% | 1974 | $739 | 7.5% | 78.2% | 21.1% |
| Pulaski County | 2.37 | 38.4 | 13.8% | 43.0% | 11.2% | 1982 | $1,158 | 36.6% | 91.7% | 4.9% |
| Tunica County | 2.57 | 36.3 | 25.8% | 60.5% | 19.8% | 1993 | $970 | 14.2% | 79.6% | 11.6% |
| Perry County | 2.46 | 44.9 | 11.5% | 19.6% | 16.2% | 1990 | $766 | 16.5% | 87.8% | 3.6% |
| DeSoto County | 2.75 | 37.9 | 13.1% | 22.1% | 6.6% | 1998 | $1,619 | 29.1% | 91.6% | 3.1% |
| Marshall County | 2.55 | 41.9 | 15.9% | 20.9% | 14.7% | 1991 | $1,106 | 14.8% | 81.6% | 4.8% |
| Benton County | 2.46 | 46.7 | 10.3% | 14.0% | 23.6% | 1990 | $702 | 13.1% | 81.5% | 2.7% |
| Scott County | 2.44 | 42.7 | 9.0% | 21.9% | 21.5% | 1980 | $723 | 12.6% | 82.7% | 7.2% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Crawford County, MI · Cumberland County, KY · Cumberland County, IL · Culebra Municipio, PR · Crowley County, CO · Cross County, AR · Crosby County, TX · Crook County, WY · Crockett County, TX · Crockett County, TN
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 Prairie 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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