Marion County, Arkansas Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Marion County is located in Arkansas with a total population of 17,228. It is the 42nd most populous county out of 75 in Arkansas. The county encompasses 6 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Marion County is 51.8 years. This is 35% higher than the state median of 38.5 years. 11.5% 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 Marion County is $48,619. This is 20% lower than the state median of $60,773. It is also 40% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 18.0%. This is 12% higher than the state poverty rate of 16.0%. The unemployment rate is 5.0%. The median home value is $163,300. Housing costs are 13% lower than the state median of $188,000. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.4x. 81.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 22% higher than the state average of 66.4%.

Race & Ethnicity

Marion County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 91.4% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 2.7%. The Black or African American population (0.1%) is well below the state average of 14.6%. The Hispanic or Latino population (2.7%) is well below the state average of 9.0%.

Education

14.9% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 42% 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 85.6%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Marion 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.