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Cross County, Arkansas Demographics 2026

Cross County, Arkansas has a population of 16,543, the 45th most populous county in Arkansas. The median household income is $50,863 and the median home value is $117,500. The poverty rate is 19.7%.

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

Cross County Quick Facts

Population 16,543
Median Household Income $50,863
Median Home Value $117,500
Poverty Rate 19.7%
Unemployment Rate 10.7%
Median Age 40.9 years
Homeownership Rate 67.5%
Affordability Ratio 2.3x
Bachelor's Degree+ 18.4%
High School Graduation 85.0%
Cities/Places 6
Population 16,543 45th of 75
Median Income $50,863 16% lower than state
Poverty Rate 19.7%
Unemployment 10.7%

How Cross 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
Population16,68116,543-0.8%
Median household income$47,012$50,863+8.2%
Median home value$104,000$117,500+13.0%

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 23.7%
$25K-$50K 25.8%
$50K-$100K 27.0%
$100K+ 23.6%
Detailed income brackets
Under $10K
3.7%
$10K-$15K
8.7%
$15K-$20K
7.0%
$20K-$25K
4.3%
$25K-$30K
7.3%
$30K-$35K
5.7%
$35K-$40K
4.5%
$40K-$45K
5.6%
$45K-$50K
2.8%
$50K-$60K
5.8%
$60K-$75K
8.0%
$75K-$100K
13.1%
$100K-$125K
8.2%
$125K-$150K
5.5%
$150K-$200K
3.9%
$200K+
6.0%

Employment

10.7% Unemployment Rate State: 4.9%|National: 5.2%
59.3% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 67.5%
Renter 32.5%
Affordability Index Very Affordable
2.3x home value to income ratio
Median gross rent $764/mo 18.0% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Diversity Index

46out 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 Cross County

CityPopulationMedian IncomePovertyHome Value
Wynne8,120$43,25024.7%$141,100
Parkin694$23,94222.6%$43,500
Cherry Valley543$31,56320.4%$77,500
Vanndale356N/A40.7%N/A
Hickory Ridge259$31,25044.2%$53,300
Fair Oaks23N/A0.0%N/A

Population Overview

Cross County is located in Arkansas with a total population of 16,543. It is the 45th most populous county out of 75 in Arkansas. The county encompasses 6 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Cross County is 40.9 years. This is 6% higher than the state median of 38.5 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Cross County is $50,863. This is 16% lower than the state median of $60,773. It is also 37% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 19.7%. This is 23% higher than the state poverty rate of 16.0%. The unemployment rate is 10.7%. This is 117% higher than the state rate of 4.9%. The median home value is $117,500. Housing costs are 38% lower than the state median of $188,000. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.3x, Cross County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 67.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 2% higher than the state average of 66.4%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Cross County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 71.6% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 15.8%. The Hispanic or Latino population (2.3%) is well below the state average of 9.0%. The Asian population is significantly higher than the state average (2.9% vs 1.6%).

Education

18.4% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 29% 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 85.0%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Cross 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 Cross County, Arkansas?

Cross County has a population of 16,543, making it the 45th most populous county in Arkansas.

What is the median income in Cross County?

The median household income in Cross County is $50,863 with a poverty rate of 19.7%.

How many cities are in Cross County, Arkansas?

Cross County contains 6 Census-designated places.