Monroe County, Arkansas Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Monroe County is located in Arkansas with a total population of 6,589. It is the 71st most populous county out of 75 in Arkansas. The county encompasses 6 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Monroe County is 45.5 years. This is 18% higher than the state median of 38.5 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Monroe County is $43,214. This is 29% lower than the state median of $60,773. It is also 46% lower than the national median of $80,734. 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 9.8%. This is 99% higher than the state rate of 4.9%. The median home value is $88,700. Housing costs are 53% lower than the state median of $188,000. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.1x, Monroe County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 62.6% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 6% lower than the state average of 66.4%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Monroe County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 52.8% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 40.2%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (40.2% vs 14.6%). The Hispanic or Latino population (2.9%) is well below the state average of 9.0%. The Asian population (0.7%) is well below the state average of 1.6%.

Education

12.7% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 51% 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 81.7%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Monroe 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.