Lee County, Arkansas Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Lee County is located in Arkansas with a total population of 8,511. It is the 65th most populous county out of 75 in Arkansas.

Age Demographics

The median age in Lee County is 41.9 years. This is 9% higher than the state median of 38.4 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Lee County is $36,860. This is 37% lower than the state median of $58,773. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 53% lower. The poverty rate stands at 27.7%. This is 73% 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 17.7%. This is 247% higher than the state rate of 5.1%. The median home value is $77,900. Housing costs are 56% lower than the state median of $175,300. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.1x, Lee County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 61.2% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 7% lower than the state average of 66.1%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Lee County is Black or African American, making up 54.6% of the population. White (non-Hispanic) residents account for 38.4%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (54.6% vs 14.8%). The Hispanic or Latino population (2.9%) is well below the state average of 8.8%. The Asian population (0.1%) is well below the state average of 1.5%.

Education

6.9% 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 73% 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 82.6%.