Howard County, Arkansas Demographics 2026
Howard County, Arkansas has a population of 12,583, the 54th most populous county in Arkansas. The median household income is $45,603 and the median home value is $153,900. The poverty rate is 22.5%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Howard County Quick Facts
How Howard 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 | 12,701 | 12,583 | -0.9% |
| Median household income | $44,492 | $45,603 | +2.5% |
| Median home value | $135,400 | $153,900 | +13.7% |
Median Household Income
Median Home Value
Economy & Housing
Household Income Distribution
Detailed income brackets
Employment
Housing Overview
People & Demographics
Age Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
Diversity Index
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 Howard County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nashville | 4,063 | $41,142 | 27.3% | $167,600 |
| Mineral Springs | 1,358 | $52,031 | 16.1% | $110,600 |
| Dierks | 728 | $22,188 | 52.9% | $100,200 |
| Tollette | 204 | $44,167 | 20.1% | $76,800 |
| Center Point | 96 | N/A | 47.9% | N/A |
Explore Arkansas Rankings
Population Overview
Howard County is located in Arkansas with a total population of 12,583. It is the 54th most populous county out of 75 in Arkansas. The county encompasses 5 Census-designated places.
Age Demographics
The median age in Howard County is 38.8 years. This is about the same as the state median of 38.5 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Howard County is $45,603. This is 25% lower than the state median of $60,773. It is also 44% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 22.5%. This is 41% 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 5.4%. This is 9% higher than the state rate of 4.9%. The median home value is $153,900. Housing costs are 18% lower than the state median of $188,000. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.4x. 72.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 9% higher than the state average of 66.4%.
Race & Ethnicity
The largest racial or ethnic group in Howard County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 62.8% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 20.8%. The Asian population (0.6%) is well below the state average of 1.6%.
Education
16.2% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 37% 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 87.7%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All figures for Howard 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 Howard County, Arkansas?
Howard County has a population of 12,583, making it the 54th most populous county in Arkansas.
What is the median income in Howard County?
The median household income in Howard County is $45,603 with a poverty rate of 22.5%.
How many cities are in Howard County, Arkansas?
Howard County contains 5 Census-designated places.