Desha County, Arkansas Demographics 2026

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

Desha County, Arkansas has a population of 10,786, the 58th most populous county in Arkansas. The median household income is $37,662 and the median home value is $90,900. The poverty rate is 28.3%.

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

Desha County Quick Facts

Population 10,786

Median Household Income $37,662

Median Home Value $90,900

Poverty Rate 28.3%

Unemployment Rate 8.0%

Median Age 41.6 years

Homeownership Rate 56.8%

Affordability Ratio 2.4x

Bachelor's Degree+ 12.6%

High School Graduation 77.9%

Cities/Places 7

Population 10,786 58th of 75

Median Income $37,662 38% lower than state

Poverty Rate 28.3%

Unemployment 8.0%

How Desha 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	11,041	10,786	-2.3%
Median household income	$36,064	$37,662	+4.4%
Median home value	$89,100	$90,900	+2.0%

Median Household Income

Desha

$37,662

$60,773

National

$80,734

Median Home Value

Desha

$90,900

$188,000

National

$332,700

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 33.5%

$25K-$50K 29.6%

$50K-$100K 22.5%

$100K+ 14.4%

Detailed income brackets

Under $10K

11.4%

$10K-$15K

9.8%

$15K-$20K

7.8%

$20K-$25K

4.5%

$25K-$30K

7.3%

$30K-$35K

5.3%

$35K-$40K

6.1%

$40K-$45K

5.8%

$45K-$50K

5.1%

$50K-$60K

6.2%

$60K-$75K

8.0%

$75K-$100K

8.3%

$100K-$125K

4.7%

$125K-$150K

3.9%

$150K-$200K

2.9%

$200K+

2.9%

Employment

8.0% Unemployment Rate State: 4.9%|National: 5.2%

47.2% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 56.8%

Renter 43.2%

Affordability Index Very Affordable

2.4x home value to income ratio

Median gross rent $718/mo 22.9% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Age Distribution

Under 18

24.9%

18-34

17.5%

35-54

24.1%

55-74

25.5%

75+

7.9%

Race & Ethnicity

Diversity Index

High Diversity

A diverse community with significant representation from multiple racial and ethnic groups.

State average: 51 | National average: 61

Education

Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)

Cities & Places in Desha County

City	Population	Median Income	Poverty	Home Value
Dumas	3,768	$34,787	33.9%	$84,400
McGehee	3,666	$36,875	34.0%	$98,800
Arkansas City	456	$41,900	16.7%	$104,700
Mitchellville	320	$40,313	12.8%	$73,200
Watson	214	$30,139	21.5%	$48,600
Reed	156	$31,125	14.7%	N/A
Halley	10	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

Desha County is located in Arkansas with a total population of 10,786. It is the 58th most populous county out of 75 in Arkansas. The county encompasses 7 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Desha County is 41.6 years. This is 8% higher than the state median of 38.5 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Desha County is $37,662. This is 38% lower than the state median of $60,773. It is also 53% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 28.3%. This is 77% 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 8.0%. This is 62% higher than the state rate of 4.9%. The median home value is $90,900. Housing costs are 52% lower than the state median of $188,000. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.4x, Desha County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 56.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 14% lower than the state average of 66.4%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Desha County is Black or African American, making up 49.0% of the population. White (non-Hispanic) residents account for 42.5%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (49.0% vs 14.6%).

Education

12.6% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is among the lowest rates in the state, which may correlate with employment and income patterns. This is 51% 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 77.9%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Desha 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 Desha County, Arkansas?

Desha County has a population of 10,786, making it the 58th most populous county in Arkansas.

What is the median income in Desha County?

The median household income in Desha County is $37,662 with a poverty rate of 28.3%.

How many cities are in Desha County, Arkansas?

Desha County contains 7 Census-designated places.