Searcy County, Arkansas Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Searcy County is located in Arkansas with a total population of 7,859. It is the 68th most populous county out of 75 in Arkansas. The county encompasses 6 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Searcy County is 47.9 years. This is 24% higher than the state median of 38.5 years. 10.5% 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 Searcy County is $44,426. This is 27% lower than the state median of $60,773. It is also 45% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 23.0%. This is 44% 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 3.7%. This is 26% lower than the state rate of 4.9%. The median home value is $110,000. Housing costs are 41% lower than the state median of $188,000. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.5x, Searcy County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 79.4% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 20% higher than the state average of 66.4%.

Race & Ethnicity

Searcy County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 88.4% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 2.2%. The Black or African American population (0.0%) is well below the state average of 14.6%. The Hispanic or Latino population (2.2%) is well below the state average of 9.0%. The Asian population (0.5%) is well below the state average of 1.6%.

Education

15.0% 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 82.9%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Searcy 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.