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COUNTY

Hempstead County

Arkansas · 19,080 residents (2025 est.) · 727.2 sq mi
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The short version

Hempstead County has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $46,787. Population has fallen 17% since 2000, a loss of 4,079 residents. 16% 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 $105,700. The poverty rate of 20.2% is well above the national figure.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 41.2
US median: 38.9
Less educated
16% 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
19,508
−17%since 2000
from 23,587 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
27 / sq mi
−16%since 2009
from 32 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
41.2
+17%since 2000
from 35.2 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:19,080 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
19K20K22K23K24K1990201020202024Hempstead County
202420K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 56.4%(1,247)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 97%(1,360)
US avg: 6%
10 to 147.9%(1,540)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 195.3%(1,026)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 246.1%(1,186)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3411.8%(2,309)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4410.3%(2,000)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5412.6%(2,464)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6414%(2,735)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7411%(2,140)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 846.2%(1,210)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over1.5%(291)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$46,787
−10%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $28,622 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$28,673
+103%since 2000
from $14,103 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
29.1%
+11.6 ptssince 2009
from 17.5% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
20.2%
−0.1 ptssince 2000
from 20.3% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.530
+21%since 2010
from 0.437 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade24.5%
US avg: 9.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing8.9%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction8.7%
US avg: 1.2%
Information8.4%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade7.9%
US avg: 6.9%
Other services3.7%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration2.5%
US avg: 4.8%
Finance & insurance2.4%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical2%
US avg: 5.1%
Arts, entertainment, food0.8%
US avg: 1.9%
Transportation & warehousing0.4%
US avg: 2.2%
Education & health services0.4%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0.2%
US avg: 0.4%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$105,700
+18%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $49,100 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$815
+13%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $397 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
71.7%
+2.4 ptssince 2000
from 69.3% in 2000
28.3% rent
Vacancy rate
22.4%
+6.2 ptssince 2009
from 16.3% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
15.6%
−4.8 ptssince 2009
from 20.5% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
48.6%
+7.2 ptssince 2009
from 41.3% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.3
+23%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
15
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Hempstead County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic59.8%(14,108)
Black30.1%(7,107)
Hispanic / Latino8.3%(1,946)
Asian0.2%(40)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic51.5%(10,042)
Black28.6%(5,588)
Hispanic / Latino15.3%(2,986)
Asian0.7%(128)
Other3.9%(764)
Diversity Score
78
+7%since 2009
from 73 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Segregation Score
30
−25%since 2020
from 40 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
Mexican14%(2,739)
Puerto Rican0.8%(153)
Spaniard0.2%(35)
Cuban0.1%(20)
Salvadoran0.1%(18)
Asian origin
Asian Indian0.1%(27)
Filipino0.1%(24)
Indonesian0.1%(18)
Thai0.1%(14)
Vietnamese0.1%(14)
Korean0.1%(11)
Taiwanese0.1%(10)
Laotian0.1%(10)
Ancestry
English9%(1,762)
Irish5.5%(1,076)
American4.4%(858)
German3.8%(736)
Italian0.8%(162)
Dutch0.8%(151)
Scottish0.6%(108)
Scotch-Irish0.5%(99)
Polish0.5%(97)
French0.3%(52)
Welsh0.1%(26)
+ 5 more ancestry groups with data
Czech0.1%(12)
Swedish0%(8)
British0%(3)
RANKED:Largest Mexican population · Largest English population · Largest Irish population · Largest American population · Largest German population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
16.3%
+5.4 ptssince 2000
from 11.0% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
82.4%
+13.2 ptssince 2000
from 69.2% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
6.2%
+2.4 ptssince 2000
from 3.8% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
21.2 min
+58%since 2000
from 13.5 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
86.2%
+5.3 ptssince 2009
from 80.9% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
7.9%
−3.2 ptssince 2009
from 11.0% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.6%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.5% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
3.9%
+0.9 ptssince 2009
from 3.0% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
0.3%
−2.0 ptssince 2009
from 2.3% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 0.3% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
9.4%
+1.4 ptssince 2009
from 8.0% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
5.6%
−2.9 ptssince 2011
from 8.5% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
51.6%
−10.6 ptssince 2011
from 62.2% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
16.6%
+0.8 ptssince 2009
from 15.7% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
29.6%
−22.9 ptssince 2009
from 52.5% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
48.3%
−1.9 ptssince 2009
from 50.2% in 2009
Female
51.7%
+1.9 ptssince 2009
from 49.8% in 2009
Foreign born
7.8%
+0.5 ptssince 2009
from 7.3% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
5.2%
−43.4 ptssince 2009
from 48.6% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
24.0%
+4.9 ptssince 2012
from 19.1% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
8.3%
−74.0 ptssince 2013
from 82.3% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
75.7%
+14.7 ptssince 2017
from 61.0% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
88.9%
+1.0 ptssince 2016
from 87.9% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
10.6%
−1.2 ptssince 2016
from 11.8% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married27.3%(2,004)
Married56.9%(4,175)
Widowed4.5%(327)
Divorced11.3%(829)
Women 15+
Never married30.2%(2,420)
Married47.2%(3,790)
Widowed11.6%(929)
Divorced11.1%(887)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Drill deeper

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Head to head

Compare Hempstead County to nearby counties

HEMPSTEAD COUNTY VS
Nevada County
Income$53,886+15%
Home value$83,300−21%
Population7,942−58%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
HEMPSTEAD COUNTY VS
Pike County
Income$49,269+5%
Home value$121,600+15%
Population9,964−48%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
HEMPSTEAD COUNTY VS
Howard County
Income$45,603−3%
Home value$153,900+46%
Population12,306−36%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
HEMPSTEAD COUNTY VS
Miller County
Income$48,836+4%
Home value$153,900+46%
Population42,357+122%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Hempstead County, Arkansas?

Hempstead County, Arkansas has about 19,508 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Hempstead County, Arkansas earns about $46,787 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Hempstead County, Arkansas expensive?

In Hempstead County, Arkansas, the median home is worth about $105,700, and the typical rent is about $815 a month.

How educated are people in Hempstead County, Arkansas?

About 16.3% of adults age 25 and over in Hempstead County, Arkansas hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Hempstead County, Arkansas?

About 20.2% of people in Hempstead County, Arkansas live below the federal poverty line.

Has Hempstead County, Arkansas grown since 1990?

Yes, Hempstead County, Arkansas has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 2,113 residents, a change of about -10 percent over that period.

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Explore from here

7 census tracts
Census Tract 4805Census Tract 4804Census Tract 4803.02Census Tract 4801.01Census Tract 4801.02Census Tract 4802Census Tract 4803.01
7 ZIP codes
ZIP 71801ZIP 71838ZIP 71862ZIP 71825ZIP 71855ZIP 71847ZIP 71859
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →