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COUNTY

Desha County

Arkansas · 9,984 residents (2025 est.) · 741.227 sq mi
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#18Fastest shrinkingof 3,135-12.4%
The short version

Desha County has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $37,662. Population has fallen 30% since 2000, a loss of 4,555 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 $90,900. The poverty rate of 28.3% is well above the national figure. Households here earn about 38% less than the Arkansas median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 41.6
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
10,786
−30%since 2000
from 15,341 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
15 / sq mi
−21%since 2009
from 19 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
41.6
+17%since 2000
from 35.5 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:9,984 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
10K12K14K16K17K1990201020202024Desha County
202411K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 56.2%(674)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 96.6%(717)
US avg: 6%
10 to 147.3%(787)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 197.3%(791)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 244.3%(460)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3410.7%(1,150)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4411.1%(1,200)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5413%(1,403)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6413.3%(1,436)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7412.2%(1,312)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 846.2%(666)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over1.8%(190)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$37,662
−14%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $24,121 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$23,568
+75%since 2000
from $13,446 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
22.7%
+8.9 ptssince 2009
from 13.8% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
28.3%
−0.6 ptssince 2000
from 28.9% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.486
+3%since 2010
from 0.470 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Agriculture, forestry, fishing14.5%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction14.3%
US avg: 1.2%
Retail trade14.2%
US avg: 9.9%
Information8.8%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade8.4%
US avg: 6.9%
Finance & insurance3.5%
US avg: 5.9%
Other services2.7%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration2.6%
US avg: 4.8%
Professional, scientific, technical2.4%
US avg: 5.1%
Transportation & warehousing1.6%
US avg: 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, food1.5%
US avg: 1.9%
Education & health services1.1%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0.2%
US avg: 0.4%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$90,900
+18%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $42,400 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$718
+11%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $354 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
56.8%
−6.7 ptssince 2000
from 63.5% in 2000
43.2% rent
Vacancy rate
20.5%
+4.0 ptssince 2009
from 16.5% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
17.5%
−5.3 ptssince 2009
from 22.8% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
36.7%
−0.9 ptssince 2009
from 37.6% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.4
+24%since 2009
from 2.0 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
16
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Desha County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic49.6%(7,611)
Black45.9%(7,044)
Hispanic / Latino3.2%(485)
Asian0.3%(45)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic42.5%(4,581)
Black49%(5,288)
Hispanic / Latino7.2%(781)
Asian0%(0)
Other1.3%(136)
Diversity Score
72
+4%since 2009
from 69 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Segregation Score
27
−6%since 2020
from 29 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
Mexican7.2%(781)
Ancestry
English7.1%(761)
American5.3%(571)
Irish2.5%(271)
German1.4%(147)
Italian0.4%(39)
Dutch0.3%(35)
West Indian0.2%(18)
Jamaican0.2%(18)
Swedish0.1%(11)
Welsh0.1%(9)
French0.1%(8)
+ 3 more ancestry groups with data
Scottish0.1%(6)
RANKED:Largest Subsaharan African population · Largest Mexican population · Largest English population · Largest American population · Largest Irish population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
12.6%
+1.6 ptssince 2000
from 11.1% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
77.9%
+12.9 ptssince 2000
from 65.0% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
5.4%
+2.8 ptssince 2000
from 2.6% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
20.8 min
+48%since 2000
from 14.0 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
85.2%
+11.5 ptssince 2009
from 73.6% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
9.2%
−2.0 ptssince 2009
from 11.2% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.2%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 0.7% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
3.8%
−0.7 ptssince 2009
from 4.5% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
0.2%
−2.6 ptssince 2009
from 2.9% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 0.5% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
14.6%
+2.1 ptssince 2009
from 12.5% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
8.0%
−4.6 ptssince 2011
from 12.6% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
47.2%
−13.8 ptssince 2011
from 61.0% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
18.3%
−1.7 ptssince 2009
from 20.0% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
31.1%
−29.6 ptssince 2009
from 60.7% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
46.5%
−1.0 ptssince 2009
from 47.5% in 2009
Female
53.5%
+1.0 ptssince 2009
from 52.5% in 2009
Foreign born
3.5%
+1.2 ptssince 2009
from 2.4% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
4.5%
−41.2 ptssince 2009
from 45.6% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
22.2%
+1.6 ptssince 2012
from 20.6% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
7.7%
−72.5 ptssince 2013
from 80.2% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
78.0%
+31.9 ptssince 2017
from 46.1% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
93.3%
−1.8 ptssince 2016
from 95.1% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
6.7%
+2.2 ptssince 2016
from 4.5% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married35.7%(1,405)
Married47.9%(1,882)
Widowed4.3%(170)
Divorced12.1%(474)
Women 15+
Never married36.2%(1,694)
Married40.9%(1,914)
Widowed11.8%(550)
Divorced11.1%(519)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Drill deeper

Places similar to Desha County

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Pop 9,359
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Pop 8,983
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Pop 9,107
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Pop 9,666
Places similar to Desha County
Head to head

Compare Desha County to nearby counties

DESHA COUNTY VS
Bolivar County
Income$39,585+5%
Home value$130,000+43%
Population28,262+183%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
DESHA COUNTY VS
Lincoln County
Income$51,778+37%
Home value$108,000+19%
Population12,764+28%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
DESHA COUNTY VS
Drew County
Income$42,824+14%
Home value$140,800+55%
Population17,054+71%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
DESHA COUNTY VS
Arkansas County
Income$53,164+41%
Home value$138,100+52%
Population15,836+59%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Desha County, Arkansas?

Desha County, Arkansas has about 10,786 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Desha County, Arkansas earns about $37,662 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Desha County, Arkansas expensive?

In Desha County, Arkansas, the median home is worth about $90,900, and the typical rent is about $718 a month.

How educated are people in Desha County, Arkansas?

About 12.6% of adults age 25 and over in Desha County, Arkansas hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Desha County, Arkansas?

About 28.3% of people in Desha County, Arkansas live below the federal poverty line.

Has Desha County, Arkansas grown since 1990?

Yes, Desha County, Arkansas has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 6,012 residents, a change of about -36 percent over that period.

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Explore from here

5 census tracts
Census Tract 9502Census Tract 9504Census Tract 9505Census Tract 9501Census Tract 9503
8 ZIP codes
ZIP 71654ZIP 71670ZIP 71674ZIP 71630ZIP 71662ZIP 72328ZIP 72379ZIP 71666
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →