Hempstead County, Arkansas Demographics 2026

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

Hempstead County, Arkansas has a population of 19,508, the 34th most populous county in Arkansas. The median household income is $46,787 and the median home value is $105,700. The poverty rate is 20.2%.

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

Hempstead County Quick Facts

Population 19,508

Median Household Income $46,787

Median Home Value $105,700

Poverty Rate 20.2%

Unemployment Rate 5.6%

Median Age 41.2 years

Homeownership Rate 71.8%

Affordability Ratio 2.3x

Bachelor's Degree+ 16.3%

High School Graduation 82.4%

Cities/Places 12

Population 19,508 34th of 75

Median Income $46,787 23% lower than state

Poverty Rate 20.2%

Unemployment 5.6%

How Hempstead 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	19,778	19,508	-1.4%
Median household income	$47,654	$46,787	-1.8%
Median home value	$100,200	$105,700	+5.5%

Median Household Income

Hempstead

$46,787

$60,773

National

$80,734

Median Home Value

Hempstead

$105,700

$188,000

National

$332,700

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 29.6%

$25K-$50K 23.3%

$50K-$100K 29.8%

$100K+ 17.3%

Detailed income brackets

Under $10K

9.5%

$10K-$15K

6.2%

$15K-$20K

7.9%

$20K-$25K

6.1%

$25K-$30K

4.7%

$30K-$35K

2.9%

$35K-$40K

6.5%

$40K-$45K

4.2%

$45K-$50K

5.0%

$50K-$60K

7.0%

$60K-$75K

10.9%

$75K-$100K

11.8%

$100K-$125K

6.7%

$125K-$150K

3.1%

$150K-$200K

4.1%

$200K+

3.5%

Employment

5.6% Unemployment Rate State: 4.9%|National: 5.2%

51.6% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 71.8%

Renter 28.2%

Affordability Index Very Affordable

2.3x home value to income ratio

Median gross rent $815/mo 20.9% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Age Distribution

Under 18

25.3%

18-34

19.1%

35-54

22.9%

55-74

25.0%

75+

7.7%

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 Hempstead County

City	Population	Median Income	Poverty	Home Value
Hope	8,671	$37,500	23.4%	$91,900
Emmet	435	$56,016	22.8%	$86,900
Perrytown	251	$56,250	7.3%	$125,000
Fulton	189	N/A	7.9%	$129,200
Blevins	167	$50,972	13.8%	$102,000
Washington	93	$38,421	8.6%	N/A
McNab	73	N/A	11.0%	$31,800
McCaskill	46	N/A	84.8%	$171,900
Ozan	43	N/A	0.0%	N/A
Patmos	38	$40,417	28.9%	N/A
Oakhaven	34	$61,250	19.4%	$115,600
Saratoga	18	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

Hempstead County is located in Arkansas with a total population of 19,508. It is the 34th most populous county out of 75 in Arkansas. The county encompasses 12 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Hempstead County is 41.2 years. This is 7% higher than the state median of 38.5 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Hempstead County is $46,787. This is 23% lower than the state median of $60,773. It is also 42% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 20.2%. This is 26% 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 5.6%. This is 13% higher than the state rate of 4.9%. The median home value is $105,700. Housing costs are 44% lower than the state median of $188,000. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.3x, Hempstead County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 71.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 8% higher than the state average of 66.4%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Hempstead County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 51.5% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 28.6%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (28.6% vs 14.6%). The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (15.3% vs 9.0%). The Asian population (0.7%) is well below the state average of 1.6%.

Education

16.3% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 36% 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 82.4%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Hempstead 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 Hempstead County, Arkansas?

Hempstead County has a population of 19,508, making it the 34th most populous county in Arkansas.

What is the median income in Hempstead County?

The median household income in Hempstead County is $46,787 with a poverty rate of 20.2%.

How many cities are in Hempstead County, Arkansas?

Hempstead County contains 12 Census-designated places.