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COUNTY

Ashley County

Arkansas · 17,831 residents (2025 est.) · 925.492 sq mi
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#121Fastest shrinkingof 3,135-6.5%
The short version

Ashley County has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $44,266. Population has fallen 24% since 2000, a loss of 5,780 residents. 13% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $91,900. The poverty rate of 22.1% is well above the national figure. Households here earn about 27% less than the Arkansas median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 42.8
US median: 38.9
Less educated
13% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
18,429
−24%since 2000
from 24,209 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
20 / sq mi
−17%since 2009
from 24 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
42.8
+18%since 2000
from 36.2 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:17,831 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
18K20K21K23K25K1990201020202024Ashley County
202418K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 55.7%(1,055)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 95.1%(939)
US avg: 6%
10 to 147.5%(1,386)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 196.5%(1,204)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 245.5%(1,014)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3411.9%(2,189)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 449.7%(1,788)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5413%(2,387)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6413.6%(2,504)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7412.1%(2,230)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 846.8%(1,244)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over2.7%(489)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$44,266
−23%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $31,758 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$24,967
+59%since 2000
from $15,702 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
27.5%
+9.7 ptssince 2009
from 17.8% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
22.1%
+4.7 ptssince 2000
from 17.5% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.465
+4%since 2010
from 0.447 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade15.3%
US avg: 9.9%
Information10.5%
US avg: 10.8%
Finance & insurance9%
US avg: 5.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing7.1%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction7%
US avg: 1.2%
Wholesale trade6.7%
US avg: 6.9%
Professional, scientific, technical6.4%
US avg: 5.1%
Other services3.5%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration3.4%
US avg: 4.8%
Education & health services2.7%
US avg: 0.9%
Arts, entertainment, food1.3%
US avg: 1.9%
Transportation & warehousing0.4%
US avg: 2.2%
Manufacturing0.2%
US avg: 0.4%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$91,900
+3%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $49,200 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$703
−7%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $414 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
70.8%
−5.2 ptssince 2000
from 76.0% in 2000
29.2% rent
Vacancy rate
21.7%
+6.9 ptssince 2009
from 14.7% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
18.1%
−0.7 ptssince 2009
from 18.9% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
38.5%
+5.4 ptssince 2009
from 33.1% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.1
+13%since 2009
from 1.8 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
9
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Ashley County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic69%(16,702)
Black26.9%(6,506)
Hispanic / Latino3.2%(776)
Asian0.2%(39)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic67.3%(12,394)
Black23.7%(4,363)
Hispanic / Latino6.4%(1,176)
Asian0%(0)
Other2.7%(496)
Diversity Score
61
+2%since 2009
from 59 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Segregation Score
24
−5%since 2020
from 25 in 2020
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means White and non-White residents are more separated across neighborhoods.
Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Mexican5.2%(960)
Salvadoran0.7%(130)
Argentine0.2%(35)
Spaniard0.2%(30)
Pacific Islander origin
Marshallese0.3%(54)
Ancestry
English11.1%(2,044)
American8.4%(1,545)
Irish5.3%(982)
German3.2%(588)
Scottish1%(179)
Norwegian0.6%(104)
Scotch-Irish0.5%(100)
Italian0.5%(89)
Dutch0.2%(41)
French0.2%(30)
British0.2%(28)
+ 10 more ancestry groups with data
Portuguese0.1%(25)
Greek0.1%(10)
Welsh0.1%(10)
Swedish0%(9)
Belgian0%(7)
Czech0%(6)
Swiss0%(6)
Arab0%(5)
RANKED:Largest English population · Largest American population · Largest Irish population · Largest Mexican population · Largest German population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
12.8%
+2.7 ptssince 2000
from 10.1% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
87.7%
+15.2 ptssince 2000
from 72.5% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
4.0%
+1.0 ptssince 2000
from 3.0% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
23.9 min
+77%since 2000
from 13.5 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
84.6%
+0.8 ptssince 2009
from 83.8% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
9.0%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 8.8% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.5%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 0.3% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
3.3%
+1.9 ptssince 2009
from 1.3% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
0.4%
−1.9 ptssince 2009
from 2.3% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.6%
+0.5 ptssince 2009
from 0.2% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
8.8%
+1.5 ptssince 2009
from 7.3% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
5.5%
−4.3 ptssince 2011
from 9.7% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
47.6%
−8.6 ptssince 2011
from 56.2% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
16.4%
+1.7 ptssince 2009
from 14.7% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
25.5%
−28.2 ptssince 2009
from 53.8% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
47.7%
−0.8 ptssince 2009
from 48.5% in 2009
Female
52.3%
+0.8 ptssince 2009
from 51.5% in 2009
Foreign born
2.2%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 2.2% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
4.8%
−43.0 ptssince 2009
from 47.8% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
25.3%
+6.4 ptssince 2012
from 18.9% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
9.9%
−73.9 ptssince 2013
from 83.8% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
80.0%
+20.6 ptssince 2017
from 59.4% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
94.7%
−0.5 ptssince 2016
from 95.2% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
4.7%
+0.4 ptssince 2016
from 4.4% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married26.8%(1,909)
Married52.9%(3,766)
Widowed5.1%(360)
Divorced15.3%(1,086)
Women 15+
Never married24.4%(1,936)
Married47.3%(3,751)
Widowed13.4%(1,063)
Divorced14.9%(1,178)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Drill deeper

Places similar to Ashley County

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Pop 18,122
Butler County
Pop 18,100
Macon County
Pop 18,132
Marengo County
Pop 18,311
Places similar to Ashley County
Head to head

Compare Ashley County to nearby counties

ASHLEY COUNTY VS
Morehouse Parish
Income$39,454−11%
Home value$118,800+29%
Population23,705+33%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
ASHLEY COUNTY VS
Drew County
Income$42,824−3%
Home value$140,800+53%
Population17,054−4%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
ASHLEY COUNTY VS
Chicot County
Income$39,045−12%
Home value$89,100−3%
Population9,107−49%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
ASHLEY COUNTY VS
Bradley County
Income$41,476−6%
Home value$94,800+3%
Population9,828−45%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Ashley County, Arkansas?

Ashley County, Arkansas has about 18,429 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Ashley County, Arkansas?

The typical household in Ashley County, Arkansas earns about $44,266 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Ashley County, Arkansas expensive?

In Ashley County, Arkansas, the median home is worth about $91,900, and the typical rent is about $703 a month.

How educated are people in Ashley County, Arkansas?

About 12.8% of adults age 25 and over in Ashley County, Arkansas hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Ashley County, Arkansas?

About 22.1% of people in Ashley County, Arkansas live below the federal poverty line.

Has Ashley County, Arkansas grown since 1990?

Yes, Ashley County, Arkansas has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 5,890 residents, a change of about -24 percent over that period.

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Explore from here

7 census tracts
Census Tract 9606Census Tract 9603Census Tract 9602Census Tract 9605Census Tract 9607Census Tract 9604Census Tract 9601
6 ZIP codes
ZIP 71635ZIP 71646ZIP 71642ZIP 71676ZIP 71658ZIP 71661
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →