Baxter County, Arkansas Demographics 2026

Name: Baxter County, Arkansas Demographics
Creator: U.S. Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

Baxter County, Arkansas has a population of 42,407, the 16th most populous county in Arkansas. The median household income is $48,452 and the median home value is $174,600. The poverty rate is 15.5%.

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

Baxter County Quick Facts

Population 42,407

Median Household Income $48,452

Median Home Value $174,600

Poverty Rate 15.5%

Unemployment Rate 6.3%

Median Age 51.4 years

Homeownership Rate 75.2%

Affordability Ratio 3.6x

Bachelor's Degree+ 19.4%

High School Graduation 89.7%

Cities/Places 11

Population 42,407 16th of 75

Median Income $48,452 20% lower than state

Poverty Rate 15.5%

Unemployment 6.3%

How Baxter County Changed

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

Metric	2019–2023	2020–2024	Change
Population	42,150	42,407	+0.6%
Median household income	$48,427	$48,452	+0.1%
Median home value	$165,400	$174,600	+5.6%

Median Household Income

Baxter

$48,452

$60,773

National

$80,734

Median Home Value

Baxter

$174,600

$188,000

National

$332,700

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 22.1%

$25K-$50K 29.0%

$50K-$100K 29.3%

$100K+ 19.6%

Detailed income brackets

Under $10K

5.6%

$10K-$15K

4.5%

$15K-$20K

4.8%

$20K-$25K

7.1%

$25K-$30K

6.6%

$30K-$35K

6.1%

$35K-$40K

7.4%

$40K-$45K

4.8%

$45K-$50K

4.1%

$50K-$60K

7.0%

$60K-$75K

10.6%

$75K-$100K

11.7%

$100K-$125K

6.8%

$125K-$150K

4.0%

$150K-$200K

5.0%

$200K+

3.7%

Employment

6.3% Unemployment Rate State: 4.9%|National: 5.2%

43.9% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 75.2%

Renter 24.8%

Affordability Index Affordable

3.6x home value to income ratio

Median gross rent $846/mo 21.0% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Age Distribution

Under 18

17.7%

18-34

15.4%

35-54

21.1%

55-74

31.2%

75+

14.5%

Race & Ethnicity

Diversity Index

Very Low Diversity

A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.

State average: 51 | National average: 61

Education

Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)

Cities & Places in Baxter County

City	Population	Median Income	Poverty	Home Value
Mountain Home	13,108	$41,274	18.9%	$169,800
Gassville	1,850	$38,750	17.8%	$142,700
Midway	1,279	$30,750	30.8%	$147,300
Cotter	1,063	$35,792	13.0%	$193,100
Lakeview	851	$66,786	17.6%	$215,700
Norfork	690	$32,167	39.4%	$182,000
Salesville	515	$38,750	21.8%	$116,300
Henderson	415	$43,767	6.8%	$188,600
Briarcliff	257	$61,875	23.0%	$192,500
Big Flat	71	N/A	56.3%	$110,900
Gamaliel	15	N/A	0.0%	N/A

Explore Arkansas Rankings

Cities by Population All cities ranked by size Richest Cities Ranked by median income Most Educated By bachelor's degree rate Most Affordable By housing affordability

Population Overview

Baxter County is located in Arkansas with a total population of 42,407. It is the 16th most populous county out of 75 in Arkansas. The county encompasses 11 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Baxter County is 51.4 years. This is 34% higher than the state median of 38.5 years. 14.5% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Baxter County is $48,452. This is 20% lower than the state median of $60,773. It is also 40% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 15.5%. This is 3% lower than the state poverty rate of 16.0%. The unemployment rate is 6.3%. This is 28% higher than the state rate of 4.9%. The median home value is $174,600. Housing costs are 7% lower than the state median of $188,000. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.6x. 75.2% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 13% higher than the state average of 66.4%.

Race & Ethnicity

Baxter County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 91.5% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 2.9%. The Black or African American population (0.3%) is well below the state average of 14.6%. The Hispanic or Latino population (2.9%) is well below the state average of 9.0%. The Asian population (0.7%) is well below the state average of 1.6%.

Education

19.4% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 24% 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 89.7%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Baxter 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 Baxter County, Arkansas?

Baxter County has a population of 42,407, making it the 16th most populous county in Arkansas.

What is the median income in Baxter County?

The median household income in Baxter County is $48,452 with a poverty rate of 15.5%.

How many cities are in Baxter County, Arkansas?

Baxter County contains 11 Census-designated places.