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Union County, Arkansas Demographics 2026

Union County, Arkansas has a population of 37,900, the 21st most populous county in Arkansas. The median household income is $55,259 and the median home value is $120,900. The poverty rate is 19.6%.

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

Union County Quick Facts

Population 37,900
Median Household Income $55,259
Median Home Value $120,900
Poverty Rate 19.6%
Unemployment Rate 5.5%
Median Age 41.4 years
Homeownership Rate 72.7%
Affordability Ratio 2.2x
Bachelor's Degree+ 19.1%
High School Graduation 88.5%
Cities/Places 11
Population 37,900 21st of 75
Median Income $55,259 9% lower than state
Poverty Rate 19.6%
Unemployment 5.5%

How Union 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
Population38,36837,900-1.2%
Median household income$50,221$55,259+10.0%
Median home value$114,700$120,900+5.4%

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 25.3%
$25K-$50K 21.3%
$50K-$100K 28.1%
$100K+ 25.3%
Detailed income brackets
Under $10K
8.3%
$10K-$15K
5.4%
$15K-$20K
5.7%
$20K-$25K
5.9%
$25K-$30K
4.5%
$30K-$35K
3.9%
$35K-$40K
6.5%
$40K-$45K
3.2%
$45K-$50K
3.1%
$50K-$60K
7.2%
$60K-$75K
10.0%
$75K-$100K
11.0%
$100K-$125K
10.4%
$125K-$150K
4.9%
$150K-$200K
4.5%
$200K+
5.5%

Employment

5.5% Unemployment Rate State: 4.9%|National: 5.2%
56.2% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 72.7%
Renter 27.3%
Affordability Index Very Affordable
2.2x home value to income ratio
Median gross rent $847/mo 18.4% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Diversity Index

54out of 100
Moderate Diversity

Moderate diversity with one or two groups making up the majority.

State average: 51 | National average: 61

Education

Cities & Places in Union County

CityPopulationMedian IncomePovertyHome Value
El Dorado17,115$49,24423.3%$124,100
Smackover2,419$55,99526.7%$118,600
Norphlet1,003$51,70513.6%$120,800
Junction City564N/A9.9%$111,300
Strong434$36,06335.9%$66,600
Huttig401$55,00015.0%$46,200
Calion355$41,41715.5%$89,400
Urbana147N/A23.8%N/A
Lawson86$91,3890.0%N/A
Felsenthal40$33,75032.5%$83,000
Mount Holly18N/A0.0%N/A

Population Overview

Union County is located in Arkansas with a total population of 37,900. It is the 21st most populous county out of 75 in Arkansas. The county encompasses 11 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Union County is 41.4 years. This is 8% higher than the state median of 38.5 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Union County is $55,259. This is 9% lower than the state median of $60,773. It is also 32% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 19.6%. This is 22% higher than the state poverty rate of 16.0%. The unemployment rate is 5.5%. This is 11% higher than the state rate of 4.9%. The median home value is $120,900. Housing costs are 36% lower than the state median of $188,000. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.2x, Union County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 72.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 9% higher than the state average of 66.4%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Union County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 59.4% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 32.1%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (32.1% vs 14.6%).

Education

19.1% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 26% 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 88.5%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Union 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 Union County, Arkansas?

Union County has a population of 37,900, making it the 21st most populous county in Arkansas.

What is the median income in Union County?

The median household income in Union County is $55,259 with a poverty rate of 19.6%.

How many cities are in Union County, Arkansas?

Union County contains 11 Census-designated places.