Columbia County, Arkansas Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Columbia County is located in Arkansas with a total population of 22,527. It is the 28th most populous county out of 75 in Arkansas. The county encompasses 1 Census-designated place.

Age Demographics

The median age in Columbia County is 34.5 years. This is 10% lower than the state median of 38.4 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Columbia County is $47,363. This is 19% lower than the state median of $58,773. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 40% lower. The poverty rate stands at 22.7%. This is 42% higher than the state poverty rate of 16.0%. With more than one in five residents living below the poverty line, economic hardship is a significant challenge for the community. The unemployment rate is 3.1%. This is 39% lower than the state rate of 5.1%. The median home value is $141,700. Housing costs are 19% lower than the state median of $175,300. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.0x. 69.1% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 5% higher than the state average of 66.1%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Columbia County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 58.5% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 34.9%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (34.9% vs 14.8%). The Hispanic or Latino population (3.4%) is well below the state average of 8.8%. The Asian population (0.4%) is well below the state average of 1.5%.

Education

20.4% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 19% lower than the state rate of 25.1%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 88.5%.