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Franklin County, Arkansas Demographics 2026

Franklin County, Arkansas has a population of 17,326, the 41st most populous county in Arkansas. The median household income is $55,886 and the median home value is $130,800. The poverty rate is 18.0%.

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

Franklin County Quick Facts

Population 17,326
Median Household Income $55,886
Median Home Value $130,800
Poverty Rate 18.0%
Unemployment Rate 4.9%
Median Age 42.3 years
Homeownership Rate 78.0%
Affordability Ratio 2.3x
Bachelor's Degree+ 14.5%
High School Graduation 87.3%
Cities/Places 7
Population 17,326 41st of 75
Median Income $55,886 8% lower than state
Poverty Rate 18.0%
Unemployment 4.9%

How Franklin 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
Population17,22017,326+0.6%
Median household income$51,919$55,886+7.6%
Median home value$118,800$130,800+10.1%

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 24.4%
$25K-$50K 23.0%
$50K-$100K 30.8%
$100K+ 21.8%
Detailed income brackets
Under $10K
5.9%
$10K-$15K
7.4%
$15K-$20K
5.2%
$20K-$25K
5.8%
$25K-$30K
7.1%
$30K-$35K
3.2%
$35K-$40K
3.6%
$40K-$45K
4.7%
$45K-$50K
4.4%
$50K-$60K
6.4%
$60K-$75K
9.3%
$75K-$100K
15.0%
$100K-$125K
9.9%
$125K-$150K
4.4%
$150K-$200K
3.6%
$200K+
3.9%

Employment

4.9% Unemployment Rate State: 4.9%|National: 5.2%
53.6% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 78.0%
Renter 22.1%
Affordability Index Very Affordable
2.3x home value to income ratio
Median gross rent $719/mo 15.4% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Diversity Index

25out of 100
Low Diversity

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

State average: 51 | National average: 61

Education

Cities & Places in Franklin County

CityPopulationMedian IncomePovertyHome Value
Ozark3,551$47,68617.8%$124,000
Charleston2,646$56,6009.9%$156,300
Altus827$47,50023.8%$108,200
Branch317$37,50020.5%$45,000
Denning245$35,93824.5%$75,000
Alix20N/A0.0%N/A
Wiederkehr Village18$99,3750.0%$325,000

Population Overview

Franklin County is located in Arkansas with a total population of 17,326. It is the 41st most populous county out of 75 in Arkansas. The county encompasses 7 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Franklin County is 42.3 years. This is 10% higher than the state median of 38.5 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Franklin County is $55,886. This is 8% lower than the state median of $60,773. It is also 31% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 18.0%. This is 12% higher than the state poverty rate of 16.0%. The unemployment rate is 4.9%. This is 1% lower than the state rate of 4.9%. The median home value is $130,800. Housing costs are 30% lower than the state median of $188,000. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.3x, Franklin County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 78.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 17% higher than the state average of 66.4%.

Race & Ethnicity

Franklin County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 86.1% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 3.3%. The Black or African American population (0.2%) is well below the state average of 14.6%. The Hispanic or Latino population (3.3%) is well below the state average of 9.0%. The Asian population (0.6%) is well below the state average of 1.6%.

Education

14.5% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 44% 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 87.3%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Franklin 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 Franklin County, Arkansas?

Franklin County has a population of 17,326, making it the 41st most populous county in Arkansas.

What is the median income in Franklin County?

The median household income in Franklin County is $55,886 with a poverty rate of 18.0%.

How many cities are in Franklin County, Arkansas?

Franklin County contains 7 Census-designated places.