Lafayette County, Arkansas Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Lafayette County is located in Arkansas with a total population of 6,136. It is the 73rd most populous county out of 75 in Arkansas. The county encompasses 4 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Lafayette County is 49.0 years. This is 27% higher than the state median of 38.5 years. 10.5% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Lafayette County is $41,278. This is 32% lower than the state median of $60,773. It is also 49% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 22.3%. This is 39% 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 5.3%. This is 7% higher than the state rate of 4.9%. The median home value is $81,000. Housing costs are 57% lower than the state median of $188,000. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.0x, Lafayette County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 79.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 19% higher than the state average of 66.4%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Lafayette County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 57.7% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 36.9%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (36.9% vs 14.6%). The Hispanic or Latino population (0.6%) is well below the state average of 9.0%.

Education

9.0% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is among the lowest rates in the state, which may correlate with employment and income patterns. This is 65% 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 81.5%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Lafayette 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.