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Prairie County, Arkansas Demographics 2026

Prairie County, Arkansas has a population of 8,064, the 67th most populous county in Arkansas. The median household income is $51,646 and the median home value is $96,400. The poverty rate is 11.8%.

Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes

Prairie County Quick Facts

Population 8,064
Median Household Income $51,646
Median Home Value $96,400
Poverty Rate 11.8%
Unemployment Rate 3.0%
Median Age 45.7 years
Homeownership Rate 75.8%
Affordability Ratio 1.9x
Bachelor's Degree+ 18.2%
High School Graduation 87.4%
Cities/Places 5
Population 8,064 67th of 75
Median Income $51,646 15% lower than state
Poverty Rate 11.8%
Unemployment 3.0%

How Prairie County Changed

Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.

Metric2019–20232020–2024Change
Population8,1628,064-1.2%
Median household income$51,094$51,646+1.1%
Median home value$87,500$96,400+10.2%

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 22.4%
$25K-$50K 25.9%
$50K-$100K 28.1%
$100K+ 23.5%
Detailed income brackets
Under $10K
5.6%
$10K-$15K
4.8%
$15K-$20K
6.3%
$20K-$25K
5.7%
$25K-$30K
5.5%
$30K-$35K
5.5%
$35K-$40K
4.2%
$40K-$45K
3.8%
$45K-$50K
7.0%
$50K-$60K
6.0%
$60K-$75K
7.2%
$75K-$100K
14.9%
$100K-$125K
12.3%
$125K-$150K
4.0%
$150K-$200K
4.6%
$200K+
2.6%

Employment

3.0% Unemployment Rate State: 4.9%|National: 5.2%
53.5% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 75.8%
Renter 24.2%
Affordability Index Very Affordable
1.9x home value to income ratio
Median gross rent $625/mo 14.5% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Diversity Index

29out of 100
Low Diversity

A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.

State average: 51 | National average: 61

Education

Cities & Places in Prairie County

CityPopulationMedian IncomePovertyHome Value
Hazen1,874$49,22514.7%$134,400
Des Arc1,591$30,92120.0%$90,700
De Valls Bluff553$27,36121.7%N/A
Ulm174$63,4381.7%N/A
Fredonia (Biscoe)135$60,3131.5%$82,500

Population Overview

Prairie County is located in Arkansas with a total population of 8,064. It is the 67th most populous county out of 75 in Arkansas. The county encompasses 5 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Prairie County is 45.7 years. This is 19% higher than the state median of 38.5 years. 11.3% 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 Prairie County is $51,646. This is 15% lower than the state median of $60,773. It is also 36% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 11.8%. This is 26% lower than the state poverty rate of 16.0%. The unemployment rate is 3.0%. This is 38% lower than the state rate of 4.9%. The median home value is $96,400. Housing costs are 49% lower than the state median of $188,000. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.9x, Prairie County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 75.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 14% higher than the state average of 66.4%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Prairie County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 83.4% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 9.9%. The Hispanic or Latino population (2.4%) is well below the state average of 9.0%.

Education

18.2% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 29% 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 87.4%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Prairie 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 Prairie County, Arkansas?

Prairie County has a population of 8,064, making it the 67th most populous county in Arkansas.

What is the median income in Prairie County?

The median household income in Prairie County is $51,646 with a poverty rate of 11.8%.

How many cities are in Prairie County, Arkansas?

Prairie County contains 5 Census-designated places.