Howard County, Arkansas Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Howard County is located in Arkansas with a total population of 12,701. It is the 54th most populous county out of 75 in Arkansas. The county encompasses 1 Census-designated place.

Age Demographics

The median age in Howard County is 39.4 years. This is 3% higher than the state median of 38.4 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Howard County is $44,492. This is 24% lower than the state median of $58,773. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 43% lower. The poverty rate stands at 19.8%. This is 23% higher than the state poverty rate of 16.0%. The unemployment rate is 7.4%. This is 46% higher than the state rate of 5.1%. The median home value is $135,400. Housing costs are 23% lower than the state median of $175,300. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.0x. 71.2% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 8% higher than the state average of 66.1%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Howard County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 62.9% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 20.8%. The Asian population (0.6%) is well below the state average of 1.5%.

Education

16.7% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 34% 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 89.4%.