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Arkansas County, Arkansas Demographics 2026

Arkansas County, Arkansas has a population of 16,515, the 46th most populous county in Arkansas. The median household income is $53,164 and the median home value is $138,100. The poverty rate is 19.0%.

Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes

Arkansas County Quick Facts

Population 16,515
Median Household Income $53,164
Median Home Value $138,100
Poverty Rate 19.0%
Unemployment Rate 8.1%
Median Age 41.4 years
Homeownership Rate 64.6%
Affordability Ratio 2.6x
Bachelor's Degree+ 13.6%
High School Graduation 85.5%
Cities/Places 5
Population 16,515 46th of 75
Median Income $53,164 13% lower than state
Poverty Rate 19.0%
Unemployment 8.1%

How Arkansas County Changed

Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.

Metric2019–20232020–2024Change
Population16,77316,515-1.5%
Median household income$60,831$53,164-12.6%
Median home value$129,400$138,100+6.7%

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 23.9%
$25K-$50K 23.3%
$50K-$100K 30.4%
$100K+ 22.4%
Detailed income brackets
Under $10K
6.1%
$10K-$15K
7.8%
$15K-$20K
4.4%
$20K-$25K
5.6%
$25K-$30K
5.4%
$30K-$35K
5.4%
$35K-$40K
2.9%
$40K-$45K
5.3%
$45K-$50K
4.2%
$50K-$60K
8.2%
$60K-$75K
9.1%
$75K-$100K
13.2%
$100K-$125K
5.1%
$125K-$150K
8.8%
$150K-$200K
5.6%
$200K+
2.9%

Employment

8.1% Unemployment Rate State: 4.9%|National: 5.2%
60.1% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 64.6%
Renter 35.4%
Affordability Index Very Affordable
2.6x home value to income ratio
Median gross rent $843/mo 19.0% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Diversity Index

48out of 100
Moderate Diversity

Moderate diversity with one or two groups making up the majority.

State average: 51 | National average: 61

Education

Cities & Places in Arkansas County

CityPopulationMedian IncomePovertyHome Value
Stuttgart7,903$49,39923.1%$152,600
DeWitt2,933$47,79825.9%$75,700
Gillett378$67,3211.9%$88,300
St. Charles250$73,7507.2%$119,200
Almyra146$75,87516.4%$83,100

Population Overview

Arkansas County is located in Arkansas with a total population of 16,515. It is the 46th most populous county out of 75 in Arkansas. The county encompasses 5 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Arkansas County is 41.4 years. This is 8% higher than the state median of 38.5 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Arkansas County is $53,164. This is 13% lower than the state median of $60,773. It is also 34% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 19.0%. This is 19% higher than the state poverty rate of 16.0%. The unemployment rate is 8.1%. This is 65% higher than the state rate of 4.9%. The median home value is $138,100. Housing costs are 27% lower than the state median of $188,000. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.6x, Arkansas County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 64.6% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 3% lower than the state average of 66.4%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Arkansas County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 67.1% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 26.1%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (26.1% vs 14.6%). The Hispanic or Latino population (4.1%) is well below the state average of 9.0%. The Asian population (0.1%) is well below the state average of 1.6%.

Education

13.6% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 47% lower than the state rate of 25.7%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 85.5%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Arkansas County come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates, with comparisons drawn against Arkansas and national averages from the same dataset. See our methodology page for how each metric is defined, or data.census.gov for official tables with margins of error.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Arkansas County, Arkansas?

Arkansas County has a population of 16,515, making it the 46th most populous county in Arkansas.

What is the median income in Arkansas County?

The median household income in Arkansas County is $53,164 with a poverty rate of 19.0%.

How many cities are in Arkansas County, Arkansas?

Arkansas County contains 5 Census-designated places.