Independence County, Arkansas Demographics 2026

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

Independence County, Arkansas has a population of 38,175, the 19th most populous county in Arkansas. The median household income is $56,609 and the median home value is $142,600. The poverty rate is 20.4%.

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

Independence County Quick Facts

Population 38,175

Median Household Income $56,609

Median Home Value $142,600

Poverty Rate 20.4%

Unemployment Rate 3.9%

Median Age 38.7 years

Homeownership Rate 69.2%

Affordability Ratio 2.5x

Bachelor's Degree+ 18.1%

High School Graduation 88.2%

Cities/Places 14

Population 38,175 19th of 75

Median Income $56,609 7% lower than state

Poverty Rate 20.4%

Unemployment 3.9%

How Independence 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	38,120	38,175	+0.1%
Median household income	$56,009	$56,609	+1.1%
Median home value	$120,500	$142,600	+18.3%

Median Household Income

Independence

$56,609

$60,773

National

$80,734

Median Home Value

Independence

$142,600

$188,000

National

$332,700

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 22.7%

$25K-$50K 22.1%

$50K-$100K 31.1%

$100K+ 24.1%

Detailed income brackets

Under $10K

5.7%

$10K-$15K

6.9%

$15K-$20K

5.1%

$20K-$25K

5.0%

$25K-$30K

4.0%

$30K-$35K

4.2%

$35K-$40K

6.0%

$40K-$45K

3.5%

$45K-$50K

4.4%

$50K-$60K

7.7%

$60K-$75K

10.7%

$75K-$100K

12.7%

$100K-$125K

8.4%

$125K-$150K

5.2%

$150K-$200K

5.7%

$200K+

4.8%

Employment

3.9% Unemployment Rate State: 4.9%|National: 5.2%

58.0% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 69.2%

Renter 30.8%

Affordability Index Very Affordable

2.5x home value to income ratio

Median gross rent $845/mo 17.9% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Age Distribution

Under 18

24.3%

18-34

20.8%

35-54

24.6%

55-74

23.0%

75+

7.3%

Race & Ethnicity

Diversity Index

Low Diversity

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

State average: 51 | National average: 61

Education

Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)

Cities & Places in Independence County

City	Population	Median Income	Poverty	Home Value
Batesville	11,445	$51,856	26.3%	$163,600
Southside	4,246	$65,655	17.5%	$151,300
Cave City	2,090	$49,800	19.7%	$120,700
Newark	1,637	$40,417	29.5%	$96,300
Sulphur Rock	1,014	$96,429	10.3%	N/A
Desha	679	$68,403	17.1%	$117,600
Salado	507	$39,355	1.4%	$221,800
Cushman	488	$43,500	20.7%	$115,100
Pleasant Plains	376	$59,531	11.4%	$118,800
Oil Trough	259	$40,083	40.2%	$83,100
Magness	238	$42,500	14.7%	$115,000
Floral	194	N/A	0.0%	$33,000
Moorefield	120	$68,750	12.5%	$250,000
Bethesda	79	$77,946	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

Independence County is located in Arkansas with a total population of 38,175. It is the 19th most populous county out of 75 in Arkansas. The county encompasses 14 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Independence County is 38.7 years. This is about the same as the state median of 38.5 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Independence County is $56,609. This is 7% lower than the state median of $60,773. It is also 30% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 20.4%. This is 28% 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 3.9%. This is 21% lower than the state rate of 4.9%. The median home value is $142,600. Housing costs are 24% lower than the state median of $188,000. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.5x, Independence County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 69.2% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 4% higher than the state average of 66.4%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Independence County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 82.1% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 8.9%. The Black or African American population (1.8%) is well below the state average of 14.6%.

Education

18.1% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 29% 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 88.2%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Independence 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 Independence County, Arkansas?

Independence County has a population of 38,175, making it the 19th most populous county in Arkansas.

What is the median income in Independence County?

The median household income in Independence County is $56,609 with a poverty rate of 20.4%.

How many cities are in Independence County, Arkansas?

Independence County contains 14 Census-designated places.