Monroe County, Arkansas Demographics 2026

Demographic data: ACS 2020–2024 five-year estimates. Sources and methodology

Monroe County, Arkansas has a population of 6,589, the 71st most populous county in Arkansas. The median household income is $43,214 and the median home value is $88,700. The poverty rate is 20.6%.

Monroe County Quick Facts

Population 6,589

Median Household Income $43,21490% MOE ±$7,341

Median Home Value $88,70090% MOE ±$5,437

Poverty Rate 20.6%90% MOE ±4.6 pts

Unemployment Rate 9.8%90% MOE ±3.1 pts

Median Age 45.5 years90% MOE ±3.0 years

Homeownership Rate 62.6%90% MOE ±5.2 pts

Affordability Ratio 2.1x

Bachelor's Degree+ 12.7%90% MOE ±3.4 pts

Adults 25+ with high school education or higher 81.7%

Cities/Places 6

Population 6,589 71st of 75

Median Income $43,214 29% lower than state

Poverty Rate 20.6%

Unemployment 9.8%

How Monroe County Changed

Change from the non-overlapping 2015–2019 ACS period to 2020–2024. Earlier dollar figures are adjusted to 2024 dollars; changes marked “no clear change” are within the combined 90% margins of error.

Metric	2015–2019	2020–2024	Change
Population	7,050	6,589	-6.5%
Median household income	$47,343	$43,214	No clear change (-8.7%)
Median home value¹	$75,565	$88,700	+17.4%
Median gross rent	$636	$614	No clear change (-3.5%)

¹ The Census Bureau changed its home-value inflation adjustment beginning with the 2022 ACS; interpret that comparison with additional caution.

Median Household Income

Monroe

$43,214

$60,773

National

$80,734

Median Home Value

Monroe

$88,700

$188,000

National

$332,700

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 31.6%

$25K-$50K 23.8%

$50K-$100K 26.7%

$100K+ 17.9%

Detailed income brackets

Under $10K

7.3%

$10K-$15K

10.4%

$15K-$20K

4.2%

$20K-$25K

9.6%

$25K-$30K

6.6%

$30K-$35K

2.7%

$35K-$40K

7.1%

$40K-$45K

2.7%

$45K-$50K

4.7%

$50K-$60K

6.4%

$60K-$75K

11.8%

$75K-$100K

8.5%

$100K-$125K

7.6%

$125K-$150K

6.4%

$150K-$200K

1.9%

$200K+

2.0%

Employment

9.8% Unemployment Rate State: 4.9%|National: 5.2%

51.1% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 62.6%

Renter 37.4%

Affordability Index Very Affordable

2.1x home value to income ratio

Median gross rent $614/mo 17.1% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Age Distribution

Under 18

23.5%

18-34

16.3%

35-54

21.3%

55-74

29.1%

75+

9.8%

Race & Ethnicity

Diversity Index

High Diversity

A diverse community with significant representation from multiple racial and ethnic groups.

State average: 51 | National average: 61

Education

Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)

Cities & Places in Monroe County

City	Population	Median Income	Poverty	Home Value
Brinkley	2,596	$38,996	25.7%	$94,000
Clarendon	1,820	$33,818	23.9%	$65,900
Holly Grove	495	$36,333	27.3%	$78,500
Roe	129	N/A	1.6%	N/A
Fargo	30	N/A	60.0%	$21,900
Monroe	11	N/A	0.0%	N/A

Explore Arkansas Rankings

Cities by Population All cities ranked by size Richest Cities Ranked by median income Most Educated By bachelor's degree rate Most Affordable By housing affordability

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Monroe County, Arkansas?

Monroe County has a population of 6,589, making it the 71st most populous county in Arkansas.

What is the median income in Monroe County?

The median household income in Monroe County is $43,214 with a poverty rate of 20.6%.

How many cities are in Monroe County, Arkansas?

Monroe County contains 6 Census-designated places.