Jefferson County, Arkansas Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Jefferson County is located in Arkansas with a total population of 65,780. It is the 11th most populous county out of 75 in Arkansas.

Age Demographics

The median age in Jefferson County is 39.5 years. This is 3% higher than the state median of 38.4 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Jefferson County is $48,552. This is 17% lower than the state median of $58,773. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 38% lower. The poverty rate stands at 20.6%. This is 29% 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 7.5%. This is 47% higher than the state rate of 5.1%. The median home value is $106,000. Housing costs are 40% lower than the state median of $175,300. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.2x, Jefferson County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 63.2% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 4% lower than the state average of 66.1%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Jefferson County is Black or African American, making up 56.1% of the population. White (non-Hispanic) residents account for 37.2%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (56.1% vs 14.8%). The Hispanic or Latino population (2.5%) is well below the state average of 8.8%. The Asian population (0.7%) is well below the state average of 1.5%.

Education

20.6% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 18% 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 88.6%.